Processes to protect and beautify metal: sheet metal painting

Protection function

The protective effect of sheet metal coating on metal is mainly reflected in many aspects. First of all, from the perspective of chemical protection, metal is susceptible to corrosion in the environment. For example, the car chassis is exposed to complex road conditions for a long time, and the water, salt and various chemicals on the road surface may cause corrosion to its metal material. The primer in sheet metal coating usually contains anti-rust pigments, which can form a dense protective film on the metal surface, preventing oxygen and moisture from directly contacting the metal, thereby greatly slowing down the corrosion rate.

For automotive mechanical componer and mold parts, they may be exposed to various corrosive media during work. Mechanical parts near the car engine are affected by high temperature, engine oil and harmful substances in exhaust gas, while mold parts may be exposed to corrosive processing materials or release agents during use. The protective film formed by coating can effectively resist these erosions and extend the service life of the parts.

From the perspective of physical protection, sheet metal coating is also of great significance. Stage lighting equipment may be subject to physical damage such as collision and scratches during use. The coating layer is like a buffer layer that can absorb and disperse these external forces and reduce damage to the metal substrate. Moreover, in some outdoor stage lighting equipment, coating can also resist the wear of the metal surface by wind, sand, dust, etc., and maintain the performance and appearance of the equipment.

Beautification function

Sheet metal coating also has a unique role in beautifying metal. In terms of color selection, it can meet different design requirements. For cars, consumers have higher and higher aesthetic requirements for the appearance of cars. The coating color of automobile mechanical parts and chassis can match the overall design of the car body, showing a unique style. From fashionable metallic luster to personalized color coating, it can be achieved through sheet metal coating.

In stage lighting equipment, the beautification effect of coating is even more vivid. These equipment should not only provide lighting functions, but also become part of the stage visual effects. Through exquisite coating, the lighting equipment can be integrated with the stage theme. For example, in some retro-style performances, lighting equipment can use bronze and other age-related paint; on modern technological stages, silver or fluorescent paint can enhance the technological sense of the equipment.

Although mold parts are not directly displayed to the public like cars and stage lighting equipment, in some special industrial displays or high-end mold application scenarios, exquisite paint can also enhance its overall image. Moreover, the paint can also achieve various texture effects through different processes, such as frosting, mirror, etc., further increasing the beauty of the metal.

The process of painting

The protection and beautification effects of sheet metal painting are inseparable from its scientific process. The first is surface pretreatment, including degreasing, rust removal and other steps to ensure that the metal surface is clean, dry and free of impurities, which can enhance the adhesion of the paint to the metal. Then comes the primer coating, and the choice of primer depends on the metal material and the use environment.

After the primer is dry, the intermediate coating or topcoat is applied. The intermediate coating can further fill the tiny flaws on the metal surface and improve the surface flatness. The topcoat determines the final color and appearance. During the painting process, automated equipment can accurately control parameters such as the amount of paint, the speed and angle of spraying, to ensure the consistency and stability of the painting quality.

Finally, there may be some post-processing processes, such as drying and curing, to make the coating layer more solid. The entire sheet metal painting process is a systematic project, and each link is interrelated to achieve the purpose of protecting and beautifying the metal.

As an important part of automated mechanical processing, sheet metal painting has brought better performance and more attractive appearance to many metal products such as automotive mechanical parts, stage lighting equipment, molded parts, and automotive chassis through its excellent protection and beautification functions. It has a wide range of applications in industry and life.