What Does
Electrostatic Spraying (ES) Mean?
Electrostatic spraying (ES) is a coating method which uses a spray gun to create an electrical charge on powder particles, while the substrate to be coated is grounded (made neutral).
The main purpose of this coating is to protect the underlying material from corrosion.
Corrosionpedia Explains Electrostatic Spraying (ES)
In the electrostatic spraying process, the powder to be used as coating is fluidized using air. This fluidized powder is supplied to the spray gun through a small hose. The nozzle of the spray gun uses high-voltage DC power to charge the fluidized powder particles and deposit them on the substrate.
Electrostatic spraying:
- Directs the flow of powder
- Controls the rate of deposition, pattern size and shape
- Controls the density of spray
- Charges the powder particles
Coating thickness is dependent on:
- Powder properties
- Preheat temperature
- Resident time
Coating thickness can range from 1.5 – 20 mils in a single coat. Inconsistent electrostatic charge during coating causes improper build-up of powder particles, which generates an uneven coating.