Air pushed through a porous membrane makes powder behave like a liquid. Parts heated above the powder's melt temperature are dipped in, and a thick layer, often 10 to 20 mils or more, fuses on in seconds. Fluidized beds apply thermoplastics and FBE and give heavy, uniform films on wire goods and fittings. The same principle keeps powder flowing in a gun's feed hopper.
Preheat the dish racks to 600, two seconds in the fluidized bed, then post-heat.
Also heard as
- fluid bed
Related terms
Thermoplastic powder
Coating powder that simply melts and solidifies on cooling, with no chemical cure, so it can be remelted.
FBE
Fusion-bonded epoxy, a fast-curing epoxy powder applied to preheated pipe, rebar and valves for corrosion protection.
Feed hopper
The fluidized container that holds powder and supplies it to the gun pumps.
Hot flocking
Spraying powder onto a part that is already hot, so the powder melts on contact and builds a thick film.