Glossary of Terms

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Faraday cage effect:
Repulsion of charged particles because of the part's concave shape. Charges build at the entry area, preventing penetration into the cavity.

FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene):
A thermoplastic member of the fluoropolymer family. FEP has excellent nonstick and non-wetting properties.

Fillers:
Pigments and other solids used to alter properties of coatings.

Flash point:
The lowest temperature at which a solvent will generate sufficient vapors to ignite in the presence of flame.

Flashing:
A brief sub-cure (at lower temperatures than the final cure) to drive off solvents or carriers prior to full cure. This helps prevent bubbling. See Partial cure.

Flocking deposition:
A deposition method of applying powder by spray to a substrate heated above the melt point of the powder.

Fluidized bed coating:
A method of applying a coating to an article in which the article is immersed in a dense-phase fluidized bed (a fixed container in which powder is aerated) of powdered resin. Preheated objects may be coated by dipping directly into the fluidized powder. In an electrostatic fluidized bed the part is usually not heated but is charged and passed through a fluidized bed of powder which has the opposite charge.

Fluoropolymers:
Family of engineering plastics containing fluorine, characterized by high thermal stability, almost universal chemical resistance and low friction.

Friction (dynamic):
Resistance to continued motion between two surfaces; also known as sliding friction.

Friction (static):
Resistance to initial motion between two surfaces.

Fusion:
The melting and flowing of heated polymer particles to form a continuous film.