Pretreatment Standards

The pre-treatment process must be capable of meeting the performance outputs as described in AS3715 and AAMA-2604 Compliance to appropriate process parameters is essential in ensuring compliance to etch, conversion coating weights (time/concentration) and conductivity of the final rinse.

Etch

• The etch process is an important stage of pre-treatment and close consultation with your pre-treatment supplier is strongly recommended to ensure optimum adhesion & corrosion resistance is obtained.
• Etch rates must be a minimum of 1gm/m².

Conversion Coatings

This is the next pre-treatment process for aluminium to ensure that it is suitably prepared for coating. It is recommended that Chrome conversion weights shall be a minimum of 431mg/m2, but advice from pre-treatment suppliers should be taken into consideration.

• For Chrome pre-treatment a Supplier ‘Certificate of Analysis’ should be provided by the customer and attached to Self-Assessment Declaration.
• Non Chrome conversion coatings should be applied and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• When changing from chrome to non-chrome your accreditation will require reapplication immediately. Warranty applications through this period will need to be monitored, tested and approved individually.

Final Rinse

Final rinse is to ensure optimum surface preparation prior to coating.

• Final rinse water run-off from the extrusion shall have conductivity of less than 30 micro Siemens/cm.
• The maximum time between pre-treatment and the application of the powder coating is 24 hours.
• The entire area of the aluminium shall be properly pre-treated, appropriate spacing devices should be used.

Handling

Care should be taken with handling to ensure health and safety measures are met and that the substrate is not contaminated.

• Pre-treated sections must never be handled with bare hands. Clean and lint free cotton gloves must be worn at all times when handling pre-treated sections.

Dry Off Oven (if applicable) If your site uses a dry off oven to assist in the pre-treatment process please ensure:

• The temperature of the dry off oven must be such that the temperature of the sections does not exceed 75˚C unless advised by pretreatment supplier specifications. Applicators must be able to demonstrate compliance with this specification.

Steel substrates shall be prepared as follows:

1. Wash and degrease all surfaces to be coated in accordance with AS1627.1 with a free-rinsing, neutral/alkaline detergent, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s written instructions and all safety warnings.

2. Wash with fresh potable water and ensure that all soluble salts are removed. Testing if required can be done in accordance with AS 3894.6 for the determination of residual contaminants.

3. Grind all sharp edges with a power tool to a minimum radius of 2mm.

4. Hand or power tool clean welds to AS1627.2 to remove roughness. Remove filings, preferably by vacuum.

5. Abrasive blast clean all steel surfaces to be powder coated in accordance with AS 1627.4 to the visual cleanliness standard of SA 2.5. Use a medium that will generate a surface profile of 35 to 65 microns. In situations where it is not possible to prepare your item on all surfaces as described above, for long term protection against corrosion it is strongly recommended whenever possible, that an alternative substrate such as aluminium be considered. Failure to suitably prepare your steel substrate may void your Steel Shield™ warranty.

6. The steel must be coated within 4 hours of blasting and stored in an area which is clean and dry. Dulux Accredited Powder Coaters must comply with the metal pre-treatment guidelines set out in the Accredited Steel Shield™ Manual.

Application Method

Electrostatic Spray

Cure Schedule

Flat Products

Metal temperature (all colours except Weathered Steel):

210°C: 4 mins minimum

200°C: 5 mins minimum

180°C: 8 mins minimum

Metal temperature (Weathered Steel only):

210°C: 8 mins minimum

200°C: 10 mins minimum

180°C: 15 mins minimum

• 25 Year Durability warranty
• 20 Year Chalk and Colour Fade warranty

On pre-treated architectural aluminium when applied by a Dulux Accredited Powder Coater to the warranty specification on recommended project types and conditions. For more information on our Dulux Alumi Shield™ warranty program click here.

• Up to 10 Years Corrosivity warranty
• 20 Year Chalk and Colour Fade warranty

On mild steel, bright/semi bright steel, black steel and blue steel as part of the Steel Shield warranty system when applied by a Dulux Accredited Powder Coater to the warranty specification on recommended project types and conditions. For more information on our Dulux Steel Shield™ warranty program click here.

Environments must be:

• Greater than10m from the high tide mark
• Greater than 1m (ie outside the splash zone) for interior/exterior warranty in environments that are close to chemically treated or salt water liquids other than coastal, river and salt lake salt water environments (eg near swimming pools, fountains, or showers)
• Duratec is NOT suitable in strongly acidic or caustic environments so the pH must be between 5 and 9.

Please note chemically treated water includes antimicrobial treatments, e.g. in pools, anti-corrosive chemicals, and soapy water in bathrooms and showers.

Only Dulux Accredited and Dulux Prime Accredited Powder Coaters are able to issue our Dulux Alumi Shield™ and Steel Shield™ warranties after demonstrating their capability to meet stringent quality conditions and international standards.

 

For more information click here.