Powder-based coating composition, a cured film thereof, and a method of improving a color strength of the cured film

The present invention is directed to a powder coating composition and a method. The method improves the color strength of a cured film of the powder-based coating composition. To produce the powder-based coating composition, the method begins by combining a powder-based binder, specifically a resin and a cross-linking agent, with a pigment and a surfactant to form a mixture. The mixture is then extruded thereby forming an extrudate of the mixture. The extrudate is cooled and then ground to produce the powder-based coating composition from the extrudate of the mixture. Next, the powder-based coating composition is spray applied to a substrate and cured to form the cured film. The surfactant in the mixture improves the color strength of the powder-based coating composition and the cured film so that the amount of pigment included in the mixture can ultimately be reduced. Additionally, certain physical properties of the cured film are not compromised.