Powdercoating temps and wheels...
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Powdercoating temps and wheels...
After reading another thread that discussed the pros and cons of powdercoating aluminum wheels (and seeing this discussed on other threads over the months), it became clear that there are different opinions on whether or not you can safely powdercoat aluminum wheels.
Since we make (and heat treat) a lot of aluminum aerospace parts here where I work, I asked the head of our Lab, who has a Ph.D. in metallurgy, if the 400degrees F temperatures will affect the properties. Here is what he says:
Depends.
....on the specific alloy the wheel is made of and the (heat-treated) condition of that alloy. Some aluminum alloys are in the heat treatable class and will react to temperatures of 400 degrees F. Some alloys are not considered heat-treatable and it won't hurt them at all.
So...... unless you know what specific aluminum alloy your particular wheel is made of, and its heat-treated condition, you'd better play it safe and not powder coat it.
Hope this helps clear up those questions.
Larry
code5coupe
Since we make (and heat treat) a lot of aluminum aerospace parts here where I work, I asked the head of our Lab, who has a Ph.D. in metallurgy, if the 400degrees F temperatures will affect the properties. Here is what he says:
Depends.
....on the specific alloy the wheel is made of and the (heat-treated) condition of that alloy. Some aluminum alloys are in the heat treatable class and will react to temperatures of 400 degrees F. Some alloys are not considered heat-treatable and it won't hurt them at all.
So...... unless you know what specific aluminum alloy your particular wheel is made of, and its heat-treated condition, you'd better play it safe and not powder coat it.
Hope this helps clear up those questions.
Larry
code5coupe
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Alloy wheels should be able to handle some level of heat if you think about the temps at the brake rotors created by extreme braking and some of that heat has to transfer to the wheel hub.
If a rotor sees 800-1000 degrees on occasion, how much of that heat would transfer to the wheel? It may not be for a long period of time, but I would think that the alloy the wheel is made from should be able to handle some degree of temperature.
If a rotor sees 800-1000 degrees on occasion, how much of that heat would transfer to the wheel? It may not be for a long period of time, but I would think that the alloy the wheel is made from should be able to handle some degree of temperature.
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Originally Posted by c4cruiser
Alloy wheels should be able to handle some level of heat if you think about the temps at the brake rotors created by extreme braking and some of that heat has to transfer to the wheel hub.
If a rotor sees 800-1000 degrees on occasion, how much of that heat would transfer to the wheel? It may not be for a long period of time, but I would think that the alloy the wheel is made from should be able to handle some degree of temperature.
If a rotor sees 800-1000 degrees on occasion, how much of that heat would transfer to the wheel? It may not be for a long period of time, but I would think that the alloy the wheel is made from should be able to handle some degree of temperature.
I run GM ZR1 5 spokes on my car and at tracks with a lot of braking, the front wheels are still around 250 Degrees when I get back to the pits after a cool down lap. I would guess that they are a bit hotter than that on the track.
Cheers,
Lawrence
