Powder coating against corrosion

Cross Clamp Connector KNS 30 from Inocon

In corrosion-promoting environments, stainless steel is considered the material of choice. However, more affordable solutions, such as high-quality powder-coated parts, are often sufficient. For example, the INOCON clamp connectors made of aluminum, thanks to their powder coating, remain undamaged even after 500 hours in the salt spray chamber.

What do powder coatings really achieve? INOCON was able to answer this question with a standard-compliant expert report. The Solingen Institute for Galvanic and Surface Technology IGOS placed a standard cross clamp connector in the test chamber and subjected it to a long-term salt spray test. The aluminum clamp connector is factory-coated with a black powder coating, which, at approximately 180 µm thickness, is extremely corrosion-resistant. The test according to DIN EN ISO 9227 NSS:2017-07 showed no signs of corrosive change in the standard element after 240 hours, 360 hours, or 504 hours of exposure. This even exceeds the maximum duration for the highest durability class C5 of DIN 55633:2009-04 by a noteworthy 24 hours. The IGOS expert report certifies that the test part shows "no visible changes on the test surface." For economic reasons, further testing beyond 500 hours was not conducted.

Economical and durable

Powder coatings prove to be very durable and corrosion-resistant because they block corrosive media from reaching the sensitive substrate underneath – in this case, aluminum. INOCON generally applies powder coatings using an electrostatic process, which significantly reduces material loss due to overspray. Subsequently, when fused at elevated temperatures, they form pore-free, sufficiently thick layers – even on edges and corners, thus avoiding critical weak points caused by so-called edge flaking.

Powder coatings are considered highly economical and ecological – after all, no solvents are used during application.

Lighter and more affordable

With such high-quality powder coatings, INOCON offers interesting alternatives to stainless steel fasteners. The aluminum components are not only more affordable but also lighter – an important argument for many weight-sensitive applications.