The UVA durability of the e-coat is equal to the SP grade of aluminum with respect to chloride resistance. The UVA resistance is best for metals like aluminum, copper, brass, and stainless steel. The reason is that a one-coat finish with an e-coat requires no heat treating and therefore can be used for standard operations and for applications where heat treating is necessary. In regions such as the United States, the increasing prevalence of steel industries has increased the usage of advanced processes such as e-coats. For instance, according to Boyd Metals, there are approximately 100 iron supply and production facilities in the U.S.
The process of electroplating starts by forming the metal surface with a positive charge. Then the electric current is applied and spreads the coating material across the surface, thereby electroplating it. The electroplating machine is called the electroplate. In the case of e-coating, there are two or three layers of e-coat metal, and the layer containing the UV resistance material is immersed in the bath. The water is generally chlorine-free and is usually drawn from a pressurized source.
Most metals have a standard thickness, which is usually referred to as the 'plate' or 'particle size'. As part of the preparation process, the thickness of the e-coat components is determined by calculating the mechanical properties of the parts by integration of data derived in various studies. This data is then incorporated into a computer model which gives the thickness with the numerators and denominators. This number is called the 'plate thickness' and is typically in millimeters. Another method of calculating the thickness of the e-coat is to apply the coating material to a punch or die. The depth of the holes is measured and this measurement is called the 'deposition thickness'. The term powder coating refers to the use of powder to fill the holes. A thin film of powder is then placed on the surface that needs to be coated and cured.