QUALICOAT UK & IRELAND
Introducing QUALICOAT 3.0
By Angus Mackie - QUALICOAT UK & Ireland Chair
In 1986 several national associations encompassing coaters of architectural parts formed a quality label organisation called QUALICOAT . The aim was to standardise procedures and increase the quality of powder coatings for its membership .
As an association it is our membership who continue to work together and undertake research which enables the QUALICOAT Standard to be updated on a yearly basis . The aim of the membership continues to be to produce the highest quality coatings for extended life expectancy . With membership that includes the coaters , pretreatment suppliers and powder manufacturers QUALICOAT licences members encompasses the complete supply chain .
QUALICOAT is a worldwide organisation which works to a single standard , so a specification by an architect in London for a QUALICOAT finish will be coated to the same standard in any city across the globe . Membership continues to grow and includes all of the professional architectural coaters in the UK & Ireland . To ensure standards are maintained coating members welcome unannounced inspections twice a year by an association nominated test house .
Members who fail the inspection could loose their QUALICOAT licence .
As with any applied finish , pretreatment is crucial to ensure that the bond of the finish is maintained , one of the crucial elements is the alloy substrate and its cleaning . In the QUALICOAT standard and the BS EN 1279 , the surface is to be etched with acid or alkaline to remove impurities which is followed by a pretreatment system that seals the substrate and creates the key for coating adherence . QUALICOAT 3.0 goes further by looking at the alloy structure itself .
With the extensive research completed by the QUALICOAT membership it is now recognised that the alloy makeup can effect the extended life expectancy of the powder coating . Enter the QUALICOAT 3.0 Label for premium corrosion resistance class .
The QUALICOAT 3.0 Label allows for the use of both primary and recycled aluminium and is to be awarded to the aluminium extruder . Aluminium QUALICOAT 3.0 requires an aluminium grade 6060 or 6063 where the relationship between alloying elements , extrusion quality , microstructure and corrosion potential meet the details laid down in the appendix of the latest QUALICOAT Standard . A QUALICOAT 3.0 specification will require a coating member to carry the ‘ Seaside ’ class membership as this is a prerequisite coating procedure for QUALICOAT 3.0 .
The aluminium extruder will then get the “ Aluminium QUALICOAT 3.0 grade ” Label after a satisfactory result the following tests ; an Optical Emission Spectroscopy test ; an Anodic Cyclic Polarisation test and an Metallographic Study .
QUALICOAT 3.0 will be driven by specifiers who are looking to achieve even higher levels of robust coatings for extended service life . Further information is available from QUALICOAT UK & Ireland .
The next QUALICOAT UK & Ireland members meeting takes place on 19th October 2021 , at the Arden Hotel & Leisure Club , Solihull , please contact the General Secretary , Jan Lukaszewski , via the QUALICOAT UK & Ireland website , should you wish to attend . For details on the availability of various colours and finishes contact any QUALICOAT UK & Ireland member for more information . For updated information about the use and specification of QUALICOAT in the UK and Ireland , please visit the UK & Ireland Association website at www . qualicoatuki . org
8 SEPTEMBER 2021 twitter : @ surfaceworldmag