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EnglishLow Temperature Cure (LTC) Powder Coating
Industrial-grade protective coating solutions: environmentally friendly, durable, and cost-effective.
Intro to Low Temperature Cure (LTC) Powder Coating
Low Temperature Cure (LTC) Powder Coatings are advanced thermoset formulations that are engineered to achieve a full chemical cure at significantly lower oven temperatures or shorter times compared to conventional powders. Standard powders cure around 180∘C to 200∘C, but LTC powders can fully cure at temperatures as low as 120∘C to 160∘C. This is achieved by incorporating highly reactive resins and specific catalysts into the formula, providing crucial benefits in energy savings, reduced thermal damage to heat-sensitive substrates, and increased line speed.
Energy Efficiency and Substrate Protection
The primary drivers for using LTC technology are twofold. Firstly, energy consumption is drastically reduced because the oven operates at lower temperatures, and the time required to bring the part to the cure temperature is minimized. This leads to immediate operational cost savings. Secondly, LTC systems expand the range of substrates that can be coated, allowing for the finishing of materials that would warp, outgas, or degrade at standard curing temperatures, such as pre-assembled parts with plastics, thin-gauge aluminum, or specific medium-density fiberboard (MDF) applications. The performance of the cured film—including hardness, chemical resistance, and UV stability (depending on the base resin, e.g., LTC Polyester)—is typically comparable to their conventional counterparts, making them a high-performance, sustainable alternative.
Specifications
| Property | Standard LTC Value |
| Peak Metal Temperature (PMT) | 120∘C to 160∘C |
| Cure Time (Typical) | 10 to 20 minutes (At PMT) |
| Resin System (Common) | Highly Reactive Epoxy, Hybrid, or Polyester |
| Key Additive | High-Performance Catalysts/Cross-linkers |
| Energy Consumption | Reduced (Less heat input required) |
| Substrate Suitability | Heat-sensitive metals, assembled parts, some MDF |
| Aesthetic Quality | Excellent flow and leveling |
| Film Performance | Comparable to conventional cure |
Application Fields
- Thin-Gauge Aluminum and Steel: Preventing warping and distortion in lighting fixtures, ceiling tiles, and thin panels.
- Heavy Equipment (Large Parts): Reducing the time/energy needed to heat massive metal components.
- Pre-Assembled Units: Components containing gaskets, plastic mounts, or temperature-sensitive fillers.
- MDF and Composites: Enabling the coating of specific wood-based or composite materials.
- Batch Oven Operations: Increasing throughput by reducing the overall heating cycle time.
Key Characteristics
- Significant Energy Savings: Lowers operating costs by reducing oven temperature requirements.
- Substrate Versatility: Allows coating of heat-sensitive materials and thin-gauge metals without warping.
- Increased Throughput: Shorter dwell times in the oven (or faster line speed) boost production capacity.
- Reduced Yellowing: Lower temperature helps maintain color stability, especially for whites and light colors.
- High-Performance Film: Delivers the expected protective and aesthetic properties of the base polymer.
Comparison: LTC vs. Conventional Thermal Cure
| Feature | Low Temperature Cure (LTC) | Conventional Thermal Cure |
| Cure Temperature Range | 120∘C to 160∘C | 180∘C to 200∘C |
| Energy Use | Lower | Standard/Higher |
| Substrate Limitations | Few (Good for heat-sensitive) | Many (Leads to warping/damage) |
| Coating Cost | Medium to Higher (Specialty resin/catalyst) | Standard/Lower |
| Risk of Overbake/Yellowing | Lower | Higher |
Why choose us
Customization: We have a strong R&D team,and we can develop and produce products according to different requirement of customers.
Cost: We have our own raw material production center.So we can offer the most favourable price and good-quality products directly.
Quality: We have our own testing lab and the most advanced and complete inspection equipment, which can ensure the quality of our products.
Capacity: Our annual production capacity is over 30000 tons, we can meet the needs of different customers with diverse purchase quantity.
Service: We focus on developing high-quality products for top-end markets. Our products are in line with international standards, and are mainly exported to Europe, America, Southeast Asia, South America and other destinations around the world.
Shipment: We are only 200 kilometers away from the Shanghai Port and 230 kilometers to Ningbo port, it is very convenient and efficient to ship goods to any other countries.
Customization
Quality
Capacity
Service
Shipment
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Q: Does LTC powder require any special application equipment?
- A: No. LTC powders are applied using standard electrostatic spray equipment. The only change is the reduction of the oven temperature setpoint to match the LTC requirements.
- Q: Is the chemical resistance of LTC powder reduced because of the lower cure temperature?
- A: No. LTC formulations are engineered to achieve the same full chemical cross-linking density as conventional powders, ensuring comparable chemical resistance and durability when cured correctly at the lower temperature.
- Q: Can LTC powders be used to coat MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard)?
- A: Yes. LTC is a key enabler for coating MDF, as the lower temperature minimizes the release of moisture and gasses from the wood-based substrate, preventing pinholes and surface defects.
Selection Guide: Low Temperature Cure (LTC)
Low Temperature Cure Powder Coating is the recommended solution when:
- Energy savings and reduction of operational costs are a primary objective.
- The component is made of thin-gauge metal prone to warping or distortion at high temperatures.
- The application involves heat-sensitive parts (e.g., pre-assemblies with plastic or specific composite materials).
- The manufacturer needs to increase production throughput by shortening the oven dwell time.
- The coating system must be highly reactive while maintaining the performance of conventional thermosets.
