For any manufacturer of plastic products, ensuring that the finish of the product offers the best durability is essential. There can be many problems with finishes that result in a shortened life, low wear resistance and other problems. This is of particular importance for electronics manufacturers, but is also a vital consideration for manufacturers of automotive plastic parts, as well as for parts that are used in office furniture and other areas. In short, any plastic component that will see regular handling from end consumers needs to have the most durable finish possible.
2K Urethane
When considering the most durable finish possible, whether you need wear and tear resistance, UV resistance, marine environment resistance or something else, one of the best options is to use 2K urethanes. These paints offer a high performance, VOC compliant finish that will withstand a variety of elements and conditions. 2K urethane is aliphatic acrylic modified with polyurethane to withstand heavy abuse. It’s even suitable for use in industrial settings, but plays an important role in marine applications, in the automotive industry, in furniture construction and in many other areas, as well.
Another benefit found with 2K urethane is the fact that the smell of the fresh application fades very rapidly. Where other types of paint can take weeks for the smell to begin fading, 2K urethanes usually require only a day or two. This is because they cure far more quickly than other highly durable paint types, some of which can take weeks to fully cure.
Finally, 2K urethane is the ideal solution for applications that require the utmost durability with a high polish finish. This type of paint can take a mirror finish with minimal polishing, so it can be used in any application where such qualities are desired.
Lacquer
For those looking for a slightly more traditional plastic paint that still results in a hard, durable surface, lacquer might be the way to go. Lacquers are solvent-based paints that cure quickly and offer a very hard finish. These can also be polished quite easily. However, lacquers do not have all of the same properties associated with 2K urethane paints. For instance, lacquers take a slightly longer time to cure. In addition, lacquers might not be the ideal solution if specific colors are required for the finished plastic product.
Metallic Paints
Metallic paints are exactly what they sound like – paint that dries with a metallic appearance. These can offer a durable finish, and they can also provide a high-gloss finish for plastic parts that require these characteristics. However, metallic paints are not as durable as 2K urethanes in all cases. Most metallic finishes are produced by adding aluminum flakes to the paint, which provides reflectivity, as well as durability for the finished product.
Finding the Solution That Is Right for You
Finding the right solution for painting your plastic parts can be quite the quandary. It’s important that you avoid mold-in coloring, as this results in a subpar product that will not provide the durability that you need. The right paint can serve as both an aesthetically pleasing finish, as well as a protective coating for the part in question.
The best way to ensure that you make the right decision in protective, durable paints is to partner with an experienced plastics painting company. Such a company will be able to provide the advice, knowledge and paint options you need to make an informed decision. In addition, working with the right company will also give you access to design and engineering services that will help you attain the best possible finish.
When a plastic molder is searching for a plastic painting company it is important that they make sure the plastic painting company has the appropriate kinds of paint lines to accomplish the job. Types of paint lines are typically robotic paint lines, open spray paint booths and infra red ovens for short lines and/or quick turnaround jobs.
Kevin Briggs is the Sales Manager at A&K Finishing, Inc. of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
A&K Finishing is known as “First to Finish with Quality” in the automotive, electrical and office furniture businesses.
With 2 plants and over 60,000 sf of space, A&K Finishing employs over 75 skilled non-union painting experts, has 12 state of the art Fanuc robots, 18 paint booths and 12 paint lines with enough capacity to handle any sized job.
