Pretreatment And Surface Prep
For Powder Coating
Powder coating prep means removing oil, soil and oxides, then applying a conversion coating so the powder bonds and resists corrosion. CPR Systems does both in one step with a hot-water wash (pressures up to 3,000 PSI and temps up to 180 degrees, set to suit the part) that applies iron phosphate or zirconium, then recycles the water to zero discharge.
Steel And Aluminum Parts
Iron phosphate for steel; Zr Green or PhosBite M+ for mixed metals.
Single Step
Clean And Coat
Efficient clean and coat operations hot water wash operation for quick wash to dry.
Zero Discharge
EPA Compliance
Over 80% reduction in water and chemical consumption. Nothing is sent to drain.
Paint Adhesion
Corrosion Resistance
Conversion coatings for increased paint adhesion. RO rinse and seal coat compatible.
Why Does Pretreatment Matter For Powder Coating?
CPR System
Bondtite Washer
MDL-20 Filtration Platform
Clean And Coat In One Step
Iron Phosphate Or Zirconium
Zero Discharge, Closed Loop Recycling
Most powder coating failures (peeling, poor adhesion, early rust) start with poor surface prep. A clean surface plus a conversion coating is what makes the finish last.
Powder Coating Prep Checklist
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Remove oils, cutting fluids and shop soil
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Apply a conversion coating (iron phosphate for steel, zirconium for mixed metals)
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Rinse if your process calls for it (city, well or RO water), or use a properly titrated non-rinse system; seal if needed
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Dry fully before powder to prevent outgassing and flash rust
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Test adhesion and coating weight on a regular schedule
Which Pretreatment System Fits Your Shop?
Batch, large or odd-shaped parts: spray wand pretreatment.
Conveyor line: single-step stage washer (60%+ smaller footprint than a 5-stage).
Need a booth or containment: custom wash booth.
How Do You Prep Aluminum Vs. Steel For Powder Coating?
Steel works well with iron phosphate (PhosBite 101). Aluminum, or lines that run both metals, should use a multi-metal chemistry: Zr Green zirconium or PhosBite M+. See zirconium pretreatment and iron phosphate pretreatment.
Seeing Adhesion Failures Or Flash Rust?
Send us parts and we'll show you what proper prep does on test panels, at no cost. Call 574-233-9111 or request a free panel test below.
Installation, Training, After Care
Our pretreatment packages include installation of equipment, training at your facility and after start-up remote support via our online maintenance tracking programs.
Powder Coating Pretreatment FAQ
Can I just pressure wash before powder coating?
Plain water removes dirt but leaves no conversion coating; adhesion and corrosion resistance suffer.
Is sandblasting enough prep for powder coating?
Usually not. A blasted surface can carry blast residue and has no conversion coating, and blasted parts need extra care to avoid flash rust if they're later washed. Many shops go the other direction: they move a large share of parts out of the blast booth and into a spray wand pretreatment booth, which is faster and more economical. That relieves the blast booth bottleneck and saves blasting for parts that truly need it.
What does a pretreatment system cost?
It depends on your part size, volume and setup. Request a quote and we'll size a system to your parts.
How much space do I need?
It depends on your goals. Spray wand systems fit in a wash bay. For conveyor lines, we offer a compact 2-stage system (single-step cleaner-coater plus an optional rinse) that can expand to 3 stages with a seal coat. If you want a more traditional setup, we also build conventional 5-stage washers.
