Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
  • MATERIALS
  • TECHNOLOGIES
  • FINISHING
  • RESOURCES
  • EVENTS
  • DIRECTORIES
  • EMAGAZINE
  • CONTACT
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Latest News
  • Market Trends & Reports
  • Price Alerts
  • Subscribe to eNewsletters
  • Global Top 10/ PCI 25
  • Weekly Featured Article
  • COATLE Word Game
  • PRODUCTS
  • Product News
  • Must See Products and Services
  • MATERIALS
  • Additives
  • Resins/Polymers
  • Pigments
  • Equipment
  • Distributors
  • TECHNOLOGIES
  • Adhesives
  • Architectural Coatings
  • Industrial Coatings
  • Nanotechnology
  • Powder Coatings
  • Solventborne
  • Special Purpose Coatings
  • Sustainability
  • UV Coatings
  • Waterborne
  • Waterborne
  • FINISHING
  • Finishing News
  • Finishing Technologies
  • Finishing Equipment
  • RESOURCES
  • Columns
  • Blogs
  • Coatings Supplier Handbook
  • Podcasts and Videos
  • PCI Store
  • eBooks
  • Sponsor Insights
  • White Papers
  • COATLE Word Game
  • Columns
  • Ask Joe Powder
  • Did you know?
  • Distribution Dive
  • Focus on Canada
  • Formulating With Mike
  • Innovation Insights
  • Moody's Coatings Conundrums
  • Powder Coating Perspectives
  • Target the Market
  • TiO2 Insider
  • Blogs
  • Editor's Viewpoint
  • Industry Insights
  • Podcasts and Videos
  • COAT-IT! Podcast
  • Videos/PCI TV
  • EVENTS
  • Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit
  • Paint and Coatings Academy
  • Webinars
  • Calendar of Events
  • Lifetime Achievement Award
  • DIRECTORIES
  • Buyer's Guide
  • Equipment Directory
  • Materials Directory
  • EMAGAZINE
  • Current Issue
  • eMagazine Archive
  • China Issue Archive
  • Editorial Advisory Board
  • CONTACT
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to eMagazine
  • Subscribe to eNewsletters
Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • Market Trends & Reports
    • Price Alerts
    • Subscribe to eNewsletters
    • Global Top 10/ PCI 25
    • Weekly Featured Article
    • COATLE Word Game
  • PRODUCTS
    • Product News
    • Must See Products and Services
  • MATERIALS
    • Additives
    • Resins/Polymers
    • Pigments
    • Equipment
    • Distributors
  • TECHNOLOGIES
    • Adhesives
    • Architectural Coatings
    • Industrial Coatings
    • Nanotechnology
    • Powder Coatings
    • Solventborne
    • Special Purpose Coatings
    • Sustainability
    • UV Coatings
    • Waterborne
    • FINISHING
      • Finishing News
      • Finishing Technologies
      • Finishing Equipment
    • RESOURCES
      • Columns
        • Ask Joe Powder
        • Did you know?
        • Distribution Dive
        • Focus on Canada
        • Formulating With Mike
        • Innovation Insights
        • Moody's Coatings Conundrums
        • Powder Coating Perspectives
        • Target the Market
        • TiO2 Insider
      • Blogs
        • Editor's Viewpoint
        • Industry Insights
      • Coatings Supplier Handbook
      • Podcasts and Videos
        • COAT-IT! Podcast
        • Videos/PCI TV
      • PCI Store
      • eBooks
      • Sponsor Insights
      • White Papers
      • COATLE Word Game
    • EVENTS
      • Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit
      • Paint and Coatings Academy
      • Webinars
      • Calendar of Events
      • Lifetime Achievement Award
    • DIRECTORIES
      • Buyer's Guide
      • Equipment Directory
      • Materials Directory
    • EMAGAZINE
      • Current Issue
      • eMagazine Archive
      • China Issue Archive
      • Editorial Advisory Board
    • CONTACT
      • Contact Us
      • Advertise
      • Subscribe to eMagazine
      • Subscribe to eNewsletters
    Ask Joe Powder

    Ask Joe Powder: What Are Your Powder Coating Questions and Challenges?

    By Kevin Biller, Powder Coating Research Group, Inc., Columbus, Ohio
    ask-joe-powder-column-1170.jpg
    February 6, 2024

    Our popular Ask Joe Powder blog has made its way to the pages of PCI magazine. What are your powder coating questions and challenges? Joe Powder, aka Kevin Biller of ChemQuest Powder Coating Research, shares his powder coating knowledge and expertise by answering questions sent in from around the world.

     

    Dear Mr. Joe Powder, 

    I am looking for a simple respiratory mask to be used during powder coating application. Do you have a mask recommendation, and/or is there any standard we should follow? Or, is there any classification I should be aware of in order to help me select a mask? 

    Thank you,

    Girdhari Singh

    Dubai, United Arab Emirates

     

    Dear Mr. Singh,

    In the United States, our National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends the use of a dust mask that is rated as N95. This designation means the dust mask will remove 95% of particulate materials from the air that you breathe.

    It is essential to fit the mask carefully on your face. Thick beards and narrow bridges on one’s nose can make proper fitting a bit of a challenge.

    In my laboratory, we use a 3M model 8210. It’s from a very reliable company, but there are plenty of competitive products that I am sure will suffice. If a person has a thick beard, they may have to trim it for a better fit. And if they have a small face, there are other products available. Here is a link to the N95 page for NIOSH: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/n95list1.html.

    Please be aware that these masks are only good for protection from airborne particulates. If your operators handle cleaning solvents, then a respirator with an activated carbon filter is necessary. NIOSH provides information on respirators acceptable for handling acetone here: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0004.html. Respirators can be fitted with particulate filters to protect from powders and solvents.

    I hope that this helps.

    Best regards,

    Joe


    Dear Joe,

    One of my customers is facing a problem when using a polyester powder coating. The coated pieces are aluminum profiles, and their application is vertical.

    They are seeing an unknown material that looks like snow, is mostly found inside the baking oven, and causes defects on the coated surface. It seems to happen with the powder we supply, under usual conditions, in the customer’s oven.

    Can you advise from your experience what it is and how it happens?

    Thank you in advance.

    Pongbodin Deacha

    Thailand


    Dear Pongbodin Deacha,

    Thank you for your question. I have seen this problem before. It can be summed up in one word: benzoin.

    Nearly all powder coating formulas use a de-gassing agent to assist in the film formation of the coating while it is melting in the oven. Degassing is needed because, as the particles coalesce, air pockets form in between the particles (I like to call it interstitial air). Incorporating benzoin allows the bubbles to escape during this melt phase.

    Part of the mechanism of degassing involves the volatilization of the benzoin, as its melting point is 132 °C and it tends to sublime above this temperature. How do we know this? I have taken samples of the snowflake-like residue found in powder-cure ovens and had our analytical lab characterize it. What they found was the majority of the residue is benzoin.

    How do you minimize/stop this problem? My experience with finding high concentrations of benzoin in a cure oven usually indicated a very “tight” oven. By that, I mean an oven with very little exhaust. This is a common issue; some oven designers think that since powder coatings are promoted as having no VOCs (volatile organic compounds), they don’t have any volatiles. This is not the case.

    VOCs refer to regulated organic compounds that present a deleterious effect on the atmosphere. Powder volatiles do not, but they still exist. Hence, the solution to your problem is to thoroughly clean/vacuum your oven and provide more exhaust to the oven.

    This should eliminate the problem. Then, have a trusted analytical laboratory analyze the residue with infrared spectroscopy. Benzoin absorption bands are unmistakable.

    Best regards and let me know if you have further questions,

    Joe Powder

    Do you have a question for Joe Powder? Email kbiller@chemquest.com. And be sure to listen to the Ask Joe Powder “Powdcast” for all the latest news, insights and technology in the powder coatings industry. Click here to listen!

    KEYWORDS: aluminum coatings formulating tips Ovens plant safety Polyester Resins Regulations safety equipment

    Share This Story

    Looking for a reprint of this article?
    From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

    Powder Coating Research Group, Inc., Columbus, Ohio

    Recommended Content

    JOIN TODAY
    to unlock your recommendations.

    Already have an account? Sign In

    • PCI-0724-Global10-Feature-1440.png

      2024 Global Top 10: Top Paint and Coatings Companies

      Who ranks on top? PCI’s annual ranking of the top 10...
      Paint and Coating Market Reports
      By: Courtney Bassett
    • PCI-0724-PCI25-Feature-1440.png

      2024 PCI 25: Top Paint and Coatings Companies

      PCI's annual ranking of the top 25 North American paint...
      Global Top 10 and PCI 25
      By: Courtney Bassett
    • pci1022-Kinaltek-Lead-1170.jpg

      A Novel Pigment Production Technology

      Following an extensive R&D program that demonstrated...
      Paint and Coating Pigments
      By: Jawad Haidar and Nitin Soni
    You must login or register in order to post a comment.

    Report Abusive Comment

    Manage My Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Online Registration
    • Subscription Customer Service

    CTT Registration Now Open

    CTT Registration Now Open

    The Coatings Minute: Your Inside Look at PCInnovations

    The Coatings Minute: Your Inside Look at PCInnovations

    The Coatings Minute: Print Returns with PCI’s New Showcase Issue

    The Coatings Minute: Print Returns with PCI’s New Showcase Issue

    The Coatings Minute: Why Industry News Matters More Than Ever

    The Coatings Minute: Why Industry News Matters More Than Ever

    More Videos

    Sponsored Content

    Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the PCI audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of PCI or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

    close
    • Modern arapartment complex painted in bright colors.
      Sponsored byEPS - Engineered Polymer Solutions

      Architectural Polymers Leading the Way in Coatings Innovation

    • paint sprayer in a workshop
      Sponsored byallnex

      Enabling Performance and Compliance: allnex Introduces a New Line of VOC Exempt Solvent-Borne Resins

    Popular Stories

    No. 3 AkzoNobel

    AkzoNobel to Close Two Manufacturing Sites

    Modern living room interior with green plants, sofa and green wall

    Reimagining Architectural Paints with Plant-Based Acrylic Binders

    Modern arapartment complex painted in bright colors.

    Architectural Polymers Leading the Way in Coatings Innovation



    PCI Buyers Guide

    Submit a Request for Proposal (RFP) to suppliers of your choice with details on what you need with a click of a button

    Start your RFP

    Browse our Buyers Guide for manufacturers and distributors of all types of coatings products and much more!

    Find Suppliers

    Events

    September 3, 2025

    Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit

    The Coatings Trends & Technologies (CTT) Summit is an annual conference for both liquid and powder coatings formulators and manufacturers to discuss innovations in coatings technology. This event combines high-quality technical presentations, a resource-rich exhibit hall, and dedicated networking opportunities to connect scientific minds, foster innovation, and cultivate game-changing new ideas!

    January 1, 2030

    Webinar Sponsorship Information

    For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

    View All Submit An Event

    Poll

    Longest-running laboratory experiment

    What is the longest-running laboratory experiment?
    View Results Poll Archive

    Products

    CTT Summit Short Courses (Live 9/3/25)

    Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit is expanding its offerings with four short courses. These short courses will offer an extensive day of interactive learning.

    See More Products
    pci  webinar april 2025

    PCI CASE EBOOK

    Related Articles

    • ask-joe-powder-column-1170.jpg

      Ask Joe Powder: What Are Your Powder Coating Questions and Challenges?

      See More
    • ask-joe-powder-column-1170.jpg

      Ask Joe Powder: What Are Your Powder Coating Questions and Challenges?

      See More
    • ask joe powder pci

      Ask Joe Powder: What is the Best Way to Degrease Steel and Aluminum Prior to Coating?

      See More
    ×

    Keep the info flowing with our eNewsletters!

    Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

    JOIN TODAY!
    • RESOURCES
      • Advertise
      • Contact Us
      • Directories
      • Store
      • Want More
    • SIGN UP TODAY
      • Create Account
      • eMagazine
      • eNewsletters
      • Customer Service
      • Manage Preferences
    • SERVICES
      • Marketing Services
      • Reprints
      • Market Research
      • List Rental
      • Survey & Sample
    • STAY CONNECTED
      • LinkedIn
      • Facebook
      • Youtube
      • X (Twitter)
    • PRIVACY
      • PRIVACY POLICY
      • TERMS & CONDITIONS
      • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
      • PRIVACY REQUEST
      • ACCESSIBILITY

    Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

    Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

    Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
    search
    cart
    facebook twitter linkedin youtube
    • Sign In
    • Create Account
    • Sign Out
    • My Account
    Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
    • NEWS
      • Latest News
      • Market Trends & Reports
      • Price Alerts
      • Subscribe to eNewsletters
      • Global Top 10/ PCI 25
      • Weekly Featured Article
      • COATLE Word Game
    • PRODUCTS
      • Product News
      • Must See Products and Services
    • MATERIALS
      • Additives
      • Resins/Polymers
      • Pigments
      • Equipment
      • Distributors
    • TECHNOLOGIES
      • Adhesives
      • Architectural Coatings
      • Industrial Coatings
      • Nanotechnology
      • Powder Coatings
      • Solventborne
      • Special Purpose Coatings
      • Sustainability
      • UV Coatings
      • Waterborne
      • FINISHING
        • Finishing News
        • Finishing Technologies
        • Finishing Equipment
      • RESOURCES
        • Columns
          • Ask Joe Powder
          • Did you know?
          • Distribution Dive
          • Focus on Canada
          • Formulating With Mike
          • Innovation Insights
          • Moody's Coatings Conundrums
          • Powder Coating Perspectives
          • Target the Market
          • TiO2 Insider
        • Blogs
          • Editor's Viewpoint
          • Industry Insights
        • Coatings Supplier Handbook
        • Podcasts and Videos
          • COAT-IT! Podcast
          • Videos/PCI TV
        • PCI Store
        • eBooks
        • Sponsor Insights
        • White Papers
        • COATLE Word Game
      • EVENTS
        • Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit
        • Paint and Coatings Academy
        • Webinars
        • Calendar of Events
        • Lifetime Achievement Award
      • DIRECTORIES
        • Buyer's Guide
        • Equipment Directory
        • Materials Directory
      • EMAGAZINE
        • Current Issue
        • eMagazine Archive
        • China Issue Archive
        • Editorial Advisory Board
      • CONTACT
        • Contact Us
        • Advertise
        • Subscribe to eMagazine
        • Subscribe to eNewsletters