The gun gives the powder a charge, either by a high-voltage electrode (corona) or by friction (tribo), and the grounded part attracts it. The charge holds the dry powder on vertical and underside surfaces until the oven melts it. Charge also makes powder wrap around edges and onto the back side, but it causes Faraday cage effect in recesses and back ionization at heavy builds.
Electrostatic spray is only as good as the ground, with crusted hooks the powder just falls off. Check the hooks first.
Also heard as
- electrostatic application
- electrostatic powder spraying
Related terms
Corona gun
A powder gun that charges particles with a high-voltage electrode at the tip, the most common gun type.
Tribo gun
A powder gun that charges particles by rubbing them against a plastic tube, with no high-voltage electrode.
Ground
The electrical path from the part through hooks, racks and conveyor to earth that lets charged powder stick.
Wrap
Charged powder curling around edges onto the back of a part that the gun never pointed at.