Effect of Curing Temperature on Powder Coating Adhesion of ST-37 Steel for Agro-Industrial Machinery Applications
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25047/tefa.v3i3.7109Keywords:
adhesion, cross-cut test, curing, powder coating, pull-off test, ST-37 steelAbstract
Curing is a critical stage in powder coating because curing conditions influence coating adhesion of ST-37 steel used in agro-industrial machinery and food-processing equipment. Inadequate curing may reduce coating performance and increase the risk of premature coating failure during service. This study investigated the effect of curing temperature on powder coating adhesion by applying three curing temperatures (120°C, 140°C, and 200°C) for 15 minutes. Before coating, ST-37 steel specimens were sandblasted at 4.5 bar to produce a surface roughness profile. Adhesion was evaluated using the cross-cut test (ASTM D3359) and the pull-off test (ASTM D4541). Adhesion increased across the investigated temperatures. Specimens cured at 120°C exhibited the poorest adhesion, classified as 2B–3B with delamination up to 18%, whereas 200°C was the best-performing tested condition, classified as 4B–5B with only 0–2% delamination and pull-off strength of 10.68 ± 0.48 MPa (n=3). The improved adhesion at 200°C is consistent with, but does not directly demonstrate, greater curing and stronger coating–substrate interactions. These findings provide guidance for selecting curing conditions to improve coating adhesion in agricultural and agro-industrial equipment, while corrosion resistance, service life, maintenance, and sustainability require separate evaluation.
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