What is dry-on-dry?
Our product EF26 offers an innovative solution to cure
the primer and topcoat together at a lower temperature.
We call this technique “dry-on-dry”, it is specially developed to optimize the curing and production process. When curing them separately, many factors can influence and lessen their adhesion. This risk is completely removed thanks to our technique.
How does it work?
EF26 is a powerful, reactive primer that provides excellent edge coverage with a thin layer of powder coating. In combination with our topcoat PE40-FE, excellent results are obtained. It ensures that your products will withstand all weather conditions and their quality will be optimized.
PE40-FE is a high-quality powder with very good outdoor resistance and is approved by Qualicoat and Qualisteelcoat. This powder is – amongst other qualities – known for its excellent degassing characteristics: your coatings will be as good as free from craters, air bubbles, or pinholes. Furthermore, PE40-FE is suited for curing at temperatures starting 150°C.
Combining our EF26 and PE40-FE offers many advantages for a quicker and more efficient production line. Your products only need to be cured once, significantly reducing your production time and costs. This results not only in lower energy usage but also in reduced CO2 emissions.
In short, EF26 and PE40-FE offer a unique combination of technologies and products that lift your production process and finished product to a higher level.
Industry Applications
This dry-on-dry technique can be used in a wide variety of applications, such as:
- Compressors
- Agricultural and other machinery
- Fencing
- Any application where a primer is used
Case Studies
Corrosion and blistering are common problems during the lifetime of coatings on metal.
A primer is often applied to the metal substrate for enhanced protection.
That’s why we’re excited to introduce our Dry-on-Dry technology, a solution that revolutionizes the coating process.
But how effective is Dry-on-Dry really?
Our R&D department conducted 3 neutral salt spray tests according to ASTM B117-07 on bare steel pretreated with iron phosphate and then passivated.
- Primer EF26 + topcoat PE40-FE with a total layer thickness of 70 – 90 µm.
- Primer EF26 + topcoat PE40-FE with a total layer thickness of 90 – 110 µm.
- Only topcoat PE40-FE with a layer thickness of 80 µm.
Here are the results:
1. Corrosion
| Corrosion | EF26 + PE40-FE (70 – 90 µm) | EF26 + PE40-FE (90 – 110 µm) | PE40-FE (80 µm) |
| After 750 hrs | Yes (S) | Yes (S) | Yes (S + E) |
| After 1250 hrs | Yes (S + E) | Yes (S) | Yes (S + E) |
| After 2000 hrs | Yes (S + E) | Yes (S) | Yes (S + E) |
If only the topcoat is applied, there is visible corrosion formation on the edges after 750 hours. With a thin layer thickness, this can only occur after 1250 hours; but with sufficient layer thickness of primer and topcoat, we easily reach 2000 hours without any corrosion formation.
2. Blistering:
| Blistering | EF26 + PE40-FE (70 – 90 µm) | EF26 + PE40-FE (90 – 110 µm) | PE40-FE (80 µm) |
| After 750 hrs | No | No | 3 S (2) (E) |
| After 1250 hrs | 2 S (2) (E) | No | 3 S (5) (E) |
| After 2000 hrs | 2 S (2) (E) | No | * |
Only a topcoat, already causes blistering after 750 hours. With a thin layer thickness, blisters will only form after 1500 hours; while with a higher thickness, no form of corrosion is visible even after 2000 hours. Blistering can therefore be prevented with the help of a good primer.
3. Adhesion
The adhesion, or bonding, of the coating to the substrate is important.
It’s not just about protection – it’s about extending the lifespan of your product.
Our research shows that using a primer has a very positive effect here. The adhesion of the coating is up to 100% better when a primer is used than when only a topcoat is applied.
In other words, Dry-on-Dry technology can contribute significantly to preventing problems and improving the adhesion of the coating to the substrate. This research shows that the overall coating thickness also plays an important role in protecting the substrate from corrosion and blistering. Moreover, using a primer has a beneficial effect on edge protection, especially for sharp edges.
