Masking FAQs

Powder coating is a dry finishing process that has become extremely popular since its introduction in North America in the 1960s. Representing over 15% of the total industrial finishing market, the global powder coatings market is expected to reach $16.55B by 2024. Applied as a substance which resembles baking flour in consistency, it is easy for the coating to end up in places it would not be wanted. With many different powder coating masking tapes available, it can be difficult to select the best option.

Polyester Tapes (PET) consist of a polyester carrier (the non-adhesive part of tape) and a silicone adhesive. Silicone is very resilient to extreme temperatures and therefore is used in high heat applications. The initial tack and ultimate adhesion of silicone is lower than acrylic and rubber adhesives and allows for clean removal after high heat processes.  These tapes can withstand powder coating curing processes up to 425°F placing them in the class of high temperature masking tapes.

• Green polyester tape is the industry standard for powder coating masking tape. It is the most economical and widely used of the powder coating tapes.
• Blue polyester tape has a carrier that is half as thick as green polyester tape – making it ideal for masking complex geometries, uneven surfaces or irregular shapes.
• Orange polyester tape is nearly translucent. Being highly transparent ma
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Q. We are having issues with plug loss and leakage during coating. Rework is expensive – how can we mitigate this?

A. Excellent question! There are many factors that influence plug loss or leakage. Here are some recommendations for avoiding plug loss, leakage and rework.

Use the correct plug size
Incorrect plug size selection issues are surprisingly common, especially when manufacturers only convey hole or thread sizes to the purchasing department. In immersion or heat cycles, building pressure can trap large air pockets. If you do not select plugs with this problem in mind, a “perfect fit” on paper may be the wrong choice, and a slightly overs...

Q – We use silicone masking caps and plugs in our powder coating line. After a few uses the paint builds up and begins to flake off during the subsequent wash cycles, contaminating the finish. How can we clean these to get the most use out of them?

A – This is a common question we receive. The answer is not as straightforward as it may seem. Just because you can clean them, should you? Let’s explore this a bit.

First, we never recommend chemically stripping masking materials. Depending on the cleaning agent used, it could damage or alter the mask – potentially changing its fit and, ultimately, effectiveness. Additionally, we have...