processingdetails

Curing

Curing is a heat treatment done at relatively low temperatures. Curing facilitates bonding, drying, cladding, or the adhesion of surface finishes like paint and powder coatings. When a thermoset powder is exposed to elevated temperature, it begins to melt, flows out, and then chemically reacts to form a higher molecular weight polymer in a network-like structure. This cure process, called crosslinking, requires a certain temperature for a certain length of time in order to reach full cure and establish the full film properties for which the material was designed. Normally the powders cure at 200°C (390°F) for 10 minutes. The curing schedule could vary according to the manufacturer's specifications. The application of energy to the product to be cured can be accomplished by convection cure ovens or infrared cure ovens.