Fast, Reliable RAL 9005 Jet Black Powder‑Coat Alternatives for Your Custom Parts

At Protocase, we strive to stock the materials and components needed in order to achieve our lightning-fast manufacturing leadtimes and manufacture your custom parts in the timeline you require. This involves having excellent relationships with our suppliers and vendors, and working quickly to solve supply-chain issues when they arise.

However, in rare instances, we have a material that proves trickier to source. RAL 9005 Jet Black powdercoat is currently out of stock, and forecasted to not be available until late 2022. 

This blog post will outline your black powdercoat options in substitute for RAL 9005 Jet Black Powdercoat.

Your Black Powdercoat Options

Here a rundown of the other black powdercoat options we stock at Protocase and their pros and cons as they relate to RAL 9005 Jet Black, with a side-by-side photo comparison.

(Of course, there is an important disclaimer – the color representation may vary slightly from the actual color due to variations in browser software, video cards and monitors).

Black Powdercoat Option #1 – Proto-Stock Matte Black

Type: Low Gloss, Smooth Hybrid Powder

Our Proto Stock Matte Black is a popular option, and a solid substitute for RAL 9005 Jet Black. This powdercoat is actually slightly less glossy compared to RAL 9005 Jet Black, but has an equal smoothness to it.

Proto Stock Matte Black is a hybrid powdercoat, meaning it is a blend of polyester and epoxy powder. Since RAL 9005 Jet Black is also a polyester-epoxy blend, the two powdercoats have a similar makeup.

PROS:

• Equal smoothness
• Similar makeup to RAL 9005 in terms of epoxy-powdercoat blend

CONS:

• Will reflect less light than RAL 9005 Jet Black
• Could be susceptible to fingerprints, especially if it’s handled often

Black Powdercoat Option #2 – Black Sandtex

Type: Low Gloss Fine Texture Polyester Powder

Black Sandtex is a pretty stark change from RAL 9005 Jet Black, as a sandtex powdercoat has a textured feel that is both visible to the eye and felt by touch. Sandtex powdercoat is an excellent option if your application requires durability and toughness.

Plus, a sandtex powdercoat tends to hide blemishes much better than other powdercoat textures. (For example, if your enclosure or parts include welding, a sandtex powdercoat is your best bet).

Sandtex powdercoats like Black Sandtex can be more difficult to clean, due to the textured surface.

PROS

• Very durable
• Sandtex hides blemishes very well

CONS

• Harder to clean

Black Powdercoat Option #3 -FS 17038 Black

Type: Full Gloss Smooth Polyester Powder

FS 17038 Black is a much glossier option compared to RAL 9005 Jet Black, as it is a full gloss polyester powdercoat. This means that it will reflect more light compared to RAL 9005’s medium gloss.

One other caution – FS 17038’s full gloss means it is much more susceptible to fingerprints and smudges. These can be buffed out with a non-abrasive cloth, but something to keep in mind if you are seeking a matte finish that won’t easily smudge with fingerprints.

PROS:

• Very easy to clean
• Federally rated black powdercoat

CONS:

• Much glossier option
• More susceptible to fingerprints

Black Powdercoat Option #4 -Federal Standard 595 Color FS 37038

Type: Flat Black Flat Smooth Epoxy Powder

Of the four stocked black powdercoat options available, Federal Standard 595 Color FS 37038 is perhaps your best substitute for RAL 9005 Jet Black, as it is fairly matte and flat finish.

FS 37038’s polyester powder will also offer you some extra durability and resistance, which makes it a better option for exterior applications.

PROS:

• Close match to RAL 9005 Jet Black in terms of matte/flatness
• Good for outdoor applications
• Federally rated black powdercoat

CONS:

• Not a polyester-epoxy blend like RAL 9005 Jet Black

Reflectivity Demonstration

Want to see how reflective powdercoats can range, based on whether they are flat, sandtex, gloss, medium gloss or high gloss?

Watch this quick clip for a demonstration where we shone a light across powdercoat samples of each type:

Conclusion

In the end, we are here to help you complete your projects faster, and make the best choices for your specific application. This blog post aimed to help provide you more details about your black powdercoat options while RAL 9005 Jet Black is out of stock.

Want to talk through your options? Our team is here to help. Contact us at info@protocase.com, or find your Protocase Account Manager for your specific state/province or country.

Learn more about our powdercoat options by watching select videos from our Proto Tech Tip series:

• Powdercoat Colors & Classifications
• Powdercoat Textures
• Epoxy vs Polyester Powdercoat

For information about everything we stock for our ultra-fast one-stop custom manufacturing, visit our website.