Plastic Coatings

Plastics are coated for three main reasons: aesthetics, touch/feel and wear resistance. When using a surface modifier for plastics applications, the particle size distribution is a key property that must be taken into account during the formulation process. For example, a large particle size may be necessary, so that the dispersed wax protrudes from the film and causes a matting or tactile effect. In other cases, small particles are desirable to maintain high gloss.

Aesthetically speaking, surface modifiers are effectively used in plastics coatings to attain desired optical effects such as color, gloss or matting. A wide range of possibilities is available in this area.

Some plastic coating applications require very special tactile properties. In car interiors for example, coatings using surface modifiers are used to produce a soft or leather-like feel when applied on plastic substrates such as dash boards, instrument panels and door handles. Demand for specific tactile properties is also becoming more common on the plastic components of hand-held electronic devices, where a soft-like feel is desirable.

Surface modifiers are also used in the recipe for lacquer coatings applied to plastic surfaces that require scratch & mar resistance, and even resistance to common products such as suntan oils, coffee and food stains.