Powder coating is a term used to describe a particular finish or base. It starts out as a fine powder. This powder consists of finely ground particles of pigment and polymer resin. After application to a surface, the powder is chemically altered with heat to create a finishing film. The entire powder coating process occurs as follows:

· Prepare: The surface of the material goes through a thorough cleaning process to prepare for the application of the coating. Cleaning involves removing surface contaminants, and it also prepares the surface for maximum adhesion between the material and the coating. This is accomplished with a thorough cleaning, followed by etching, rinsing and material-specific cleaning processes. Typically, any issues with coatings are the result of improper preparation, rather than an issue with the coating itself.

· Attach: Depending on the application, finishers either spray the powder coating material onto a prepared surface or dip the surface into a fluid containing particles of suspended powder. In both cases, professional surface finishers make the particles bind to the item using either electricity or heat.

· Cure: After attaching the powder to the surface of the item, the item is placed in an oven, where the heat causes the particles of powder to melt, merging into a continuous film. This film can be very thin, but powder coatings tend to apply best in a thick coat.