Test Panels for Powder Coatings
Posted on Wednesday, May 1, 2013
By Brad Kimpell
When it comes to test panels,
the first two questions that come
to mind are, “Why should I use test
panels?” and, “What type of panel
should I be using?”
The first question is the easiest to
answer. Test panels offer a consistent
surface to test and prove the performance
of your product. Through the
use of test panels you can improve
the predictability, reliability, and
accuracy of your product which will
save you time and money. This is
the reason test panels have become
an essential part of the product
development cycle, the quality control
process for the manufacture of
powder coatings, and finishing line
audit procedures for the application
of powder and pretreatment stages.
The real question to be asked is,
“Why risk varying test results when
they can be guaranteed?”
The answer to the second question,
“What type of panel should
I be using?” varies, depending on
what you are attempting to accomplish.
To meet a wide range of
needs, two distinct types of panels
have been developed: utility grade
panels and pedigreed testing grade
panels. Both types are available in
a variety of sizes and are used for
different purposes. Understanding
what to expect from each type of
panel is important because using
the wrong type of panel in a given
situation could lead to a number
of issues.
If you are a powder coater
concerned with appearance checks,
color match, hiding verification,
batch verification, crater checks or
dirt checks, utility grade panels are
the answer. Utility grade panels are
economical, making them perfect
for the purposes listed above. Utility
grade panels are commonly available
in cold rolled steel (matte or smooth
finish), tinplate steel, and aluminum
as well as iron phosphated steel,
pre-primed steel, and pre-primed
aluminum. Another great use of the
utility grade panel is for displaying
your coatings. Utility grade panels
are available in specialty shapes such
as a dome or S-curve which allow
a coating to be seen from different
angles, highlighting the quality of
coverage and appearance.
If you are a powder coater
concerned with R&D, process
validation, or finishing line audits,
pedigreed panels are the answer.
Pedigreed panels are designed for
critical testing scenarios and are
available in a wide variety of substrates
including cold rolled steel,
hot rolled steel, galvanized steel,
aluminized steel, stainless steel, numerous
aluminum alloys, cast iron,
cast aluminum, and many more.
One of the benefits of pedigreed
panels is they are customizable to
accurately replicate the real world.
Common panel customizations include
the application of iron phosphates,
zinc phosphates, thin film
pretreatments, electrocoats, primers,
base coats, clear coats, and even
powder coatings.
Regardless of your role in the
powder coating industry, the use of
test panels is critical to your long
term success. A simple way to think
of test panels is to consider them
the “doctor” of the powder coatings
world. With regular checkups
test panels ensure the coating you
manufacture or apply is performing
to the best of its ability and will help
reduce potential issues.
Brad Kimpell is vice president of
business development and sales at
ACT Test Panels LLC, Hillsdale, Mich.
He can be reached at 517-439-1485,
extension 646, or via email at
brad.kimpell@acttestpanels.com.
