Powder Coated Wheels Safe for the Track?!?

[Midtenn]

Most powder coating takes place at 600+ F. At that temperature, you change the the heat treatment of the aluminum. Without a controled heat treatment process, you aren't going to come out with the same strength wheel. Odds are its going to either too soft or too brittle at 600 depending on its alloy.

[fredk]

My powder coater cures everything at 200c which is 390F for around 10 minutes. I think 99% of powder coating is done around this temp. I would not think twice about getting mine powder coated, I'm not sure I'd buy wheels if I wasn't sure who did them. Some kid could have had them in the oven on broil.

[chadstyle]

Originally Posted by Midtenn

Most powder coating takes place at 600+ F. At that temperature, you change the the heat treatment of the aluminum. Without a controled heat treatment process, you aren't going to come out with the same strength wheel. Odds are its going to either too soft or too brittle at 600 depending on its alloy.

You are misinformed. I've never seen any powders that require heat greater than 400 degrees and the majority work best close to 300. You can powder coat in your oven in your kitchen if you really wanted to..(I have, comes out great but the wife wasn't happy)

600 degrees isn't even close...way too hot!!

[chadstyle]

Originally Posted by fredk

My powder coater cures everything at 200c which is 390F for around 10 minutes. I think 99% of powder coating is done around this temp. I would not think twice about getting mine powder coated, I'm not sure I'd buy wheels if I wasn't sure who did them. Some kid could have had them in the oven on broil.

This is def in the proper range. I don't know where people come up with these numbers but they obviously haven't spent any time in a powder coat shop. 390 is still in the range and won't damage any metals or aluminum.

[Midtenn]

I apologize for being off on the temperature, but high temps at extended periods of time will damage aluminum. It artificially ages it and makes it more brittle. It basically reduces the number of cycles the wheels can be stressed or overstressed.


Here is some information from when Flyin' Miata had a setup 949 Racing 6UL's powder coated:

http://www.flyinmiata.com/projects/t...ld.php?UID=135

[mla163]

I wouldn't think twice about using powder coated wheels. Seems like a lot of BS and gossip.

[sidetrak06]

I have to agree with chadstyle here, most powder coating is done between 300-400F for a short amount of time. I am not going to get out my old text books and elaborate on the details if I don't have to, but those temperatures are roughly half that of which transitional changes occur within the aluminum. In addition, naturally cooling from these low temperatures is the best way to ensure that you are not heat treating the metal. Heating to 400F and then dunking the wheel into an ice bath would not be suggested. Many stock wheels are powder coated using this very process. As long as you talk with your shop before hand and ensure that they are curing in that temperature range you will be just fine. The fact that people notice powder coated rims breaking probably has something to do with the driving style instead of the process. People that care enough about the looks of their vehicle to powder coat their rims are more likely to enjoy spirited driving...tough on rims...more breakage. I personally think powder coating is the way to go since it provides much better corrosion resistance than paint does. Especially with the chlorides that are sprayed on the roads for ice melt these days...they eat aluminum like its their job. Hope this help.

[D1cker]

Powder coating isn't hot enough to cause an issue in my book, but wheels are wear items and do fail, powder coating or not