Often alloy wheel repair and refurbishment professionals are asked a question, "Whether the aluminum wheels can be powder coated?". This question has a simple answer, and it is Yes. The professionals hold a record of powder coating countless wheels and then the car owners could drive the cars absolutely free from any issues.
Nevertheless, there has been a lot of debate on whether the aluminum wheels should be powder coated or not, just like the alloy wheels. The subject is filled with conjectures and rumors, and some relatively few wheel failures spark the debate subsequent to already being powder coated.
In this discussion, we shall take up the same debate to assist you in making a better and easier decision by drawing your attention to a few facts in the entire conversation.
are reputed in , then what about the aluminum wheels? Some wheel manufacturers might void the wheel's warranty when they are coated, but many aftermarkets and OEM wheel manufacturers already make a selection for powder coating to meet their preferred finish. This list comprises extremely high-end as well as prestigious names.
The overall debate might seem to spark from the wheel failure possibility once the wheel has been treated with powder coating process, and should heat be applied or not for curing the powder coating that will be enough for weakening or damaging the wheel's structural integrity. The debate is usually focused on aluminum directly, and not on steel since the aluminum anneals or it softens when the temperature is much lower.
- At around temperature 650° F, aluminum anneals
- At a much higher temperature at 1300°F, steel anneals
The standard powder coatings can be cured at temperatures ranging from 350°F to 400°F. The total time is given to these temps or the Part Metal Temp averages to about 10 - 20 minutes. This range is much below the needed 650°F required for the aluminum to soften.
Rather, the part preparation has aspects like the blasting process, which is likely to be more hazardous to aluminum compared to the curing process. Based on the kind of media put to use, the blasting is likely to result in the substrate's degradation.
It is necessary for the OEM manufacturers to consider all these discussed aspects and likewise issue the necessary warnings against their product modifications, that includes the finishes as well for protecting their brands from litigation and liability. Even as the car owners, you should even consider the essential facts and possible risks for ultimately deciding whether you need to powder coat your car's aluminum wheels and for this purpose make sure to contact the reputed powder coating shop .
