O. S. Es-Said, C. Maldonado, D. Diaz, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA; D. Piatkowski, NAVAIR, Lakehurst, NJ
The effects of curing temperature, based on new, low temperature powder coating methods and traditional high temperature powder coating methods were studied. Heat sensitive aluminum alloys (2024-T3, 6061-T6, and 7075-T6) were subjected to two different heat treatment cycles, which were based on temperatures of 121° and 204° C(250 and 400°F). Findings indicate that although both cure temperatures achieved powder coatings adhesion and thickness appropriate for industrial uses, the high temperature cure treatment negatively affected the mechanical properties. Key Words: solvent-borne paints; Low Temperature Cure Powder (LTCP); degradation of mechanical properties, age hardenable aluminum alloys
