Polyamide profiles optimized for the electrostatic painting process

• Insulating profiles made of modified polyamide
• Optimized for the electrostatic painting process
• Improved paint adhesion during powder coating process of windows

Electrostatic painting is a commonly used coating process to paint metal frames used in windows, doors and facades. Ultrafine powder particles are electrostatically charged, which then adhere to surfaces charged with the opposite polarity, forming a paint layer after curing. The challenge here is to ensure an even coating of materials with different conductivity levels, where ,for instance, the outer and inner shells of a metal frame are joined to an insulating bar made of plastic.

Insulating profiles made of modified polyamide

Plastics specialist Ensinger has developed insulating profiles made from modified polyamide that is optimized for the electrostatic painting process. The thermoplastic Tecatherm 66 ESP attracts the paint particles more effectively than conventional, less conductive polyamides, resulting in a more even paint layer. Especially in cases of metal constructions with visible thermal insulating profiles, or when working with non-standard solutions whose design makes them difficult to coat, the insulbar ESP profiles of Ensinger ensure very good optical appeal.

Optimized for coating in the finished assembly

To allow optimum paint adhesion, Ensinger offers insulbar ESP insulating profiles which have been additionally dust blasted. Dust blasting increases the surface tension to around 70 mN/m. As a comparison, conventional polyamide 66 profiles have a surface tension of around 30 mN/m, while for reliable paint adhesion the recommended surface tension shall be over 50 mN/m. Insulbar ESP profiles are capable of withstanding curing processes of up to an object temperature of 200°C without damage.