QUALICOAT Seaside Class Licence Granted
Steve Rosher, Executive Director at Euro Quality Coatings (left) receiving their licence from Angus Mackie (right) - QUALICOAT UK & Ireland Chair
Euro Quality Coatings are the latest powder coating applicator within the QUALICOAT UK & Ireland Association to be awarded a ‘Seaside’ class licence. Almost half of all the members of the Association now offer this enhanced powder coating process, but what exactly is it?
The quality of any architectural powder coating relies on its ability to adhere to the aluminium substrate. If there is no ‘key’ to adhere to, the powder coating is prone to chipping or flaking off in use. As powder coating is porous at the molecular level, an untreated aluminium substrate, subject to weathering, will oxidise under the coating if it is not completely sealed. So, no matter the quality of the powder coating that is applied, it will not offer the anticipated life expectancy should the thin ‘conversion coating’, part of the pretreatment process which offers the seal and key to the surface of the aluminium, be poor, or indeed not present.
The surface of the extruded aluminium also carries contaminants from the extrusion process which, if left on the surface of the aluminium, will reduce the performance of the ‘conversation coating’ so this needs to be removed. Removing the contaminants from the extrusion is part of the pretreatment process undertaken by either dipping or spraying an acid or alkaline solution which etches the surface removing a minimum of 1g/sm of aluminium. Without this surface etch potential, corrosion could form around the contaminants on the aluminium substrate, once coating has been completed. Given that the pretreatment process is undertaken correctly, architectural powder coated products will offer an extensive life expectancy in most locations. The pretreatment process is actively monitored by members of the Association and third party inspected by IFO, QUALICOAT UK & Ireland’s independent test house.
Introduced in 2008, QUALICOAT also offer a ‘Seaside’ class of powder coating where the minimum removal of aluminium surface is increased to 2g/sm using a dip or spray process of either an acid or a combination acid/alkaline etch. This deeper etch removes more contaminants and therefore offers a more robust pretreatment for areas where atmospheres carry corrosive salts (chlorides) and other aggressive pollutants.
QUALICOAT licensed applicators who, to offer ‘Seaside’ class coatings, apply for an additional licence or accreditation to offer this specification. The applicator needs to demonstrate that they can remove the 2g/sm by process and monitoring, plus the applicator must offer a coated ‘Seaside’ sample for an additional filiform corrosion test carried out in the IFO laboratory.
Filiform corrosion, is a spider like corrosion that creeps under the powder coating and runs along the aluminium grain boundaries. A deeper acid or alkaline etching removes more trace elements from these areas making the grain boundaries more resistant to corrosion. The pretreatment conversion coating can then be applied using any of the QUALICOAT approved systems. Statistically, with this greater etch of 2g/sm, filiform resistance is increased significantly.
On attaining the licence, Steve Rosher, Executive Director at Euro Quality Coatings commented, “Having secured the prestigious Qualicoat accreditation in August 2022, it was considered crucial for future business development, to underpin this further by applying for the coveted Seaside accreditation. This provides evidence to our client base that we are able to meet the most stringent of standards in the Architectural sector”
The licence was presented to Steve at the members Autumn meeting held at Bragborough Hall in Daventry.
The current QUALICOAT Specification is available for download via the UK & Ireland Association website, qualicoatuki.org and the website offers an up-to-date list of licensed UK and Ireland Powder Suppliers, Pretreatment Suppliers and Applicators including the applicators who carry the Seaside class accreditation. Telephone support is available from QUALICOAT UK & Ireland Head Office in the Midlands on 0330 240 9735, the Association can also be followed on Twitter @Qualicoatuki or on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/qualicoat-uk-&-ireland.