Powdercoating plastic

[mystrwizard]

Great site! Just beginning to learn the subject on powder coating and was curious, I have these cool electronic boxes that I was thinking of powercoating but they are plastic. Can this be done some way?

Reese

[Hemi-T]

The plastic part must be able to withstand 400 degrees for 15 minutes. If it will do this, then it's possible to powder coat it. Some plastics will, and some won't.

Hemi-T

[sterner2]

Tricks to doing plastic

How does the plastic conduct the charge needed to draw and hold the powder? Also, is there any guidelines one can use to determine which plastic is more heat tollerant? A code or stamping on the part?

Lastly, which type of coating do you recommend on plastic? Are some more flexible than others? Can you add additives to the coating to make it more flexible?

Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.

[non-stick]

most plastics ( which are the type you are dealing with) that are already molded are a thermoset molded variety. It can be done, but with great care and caution. Plastics on thier own are natrually insulators and therefore must have the assistance of some vehicle in which to promote flow of electrons ( look into the silvaspray threads here). I suppose the easiest way to change a colour on this is to liquid spray it.... but that doesn't necessarily answer your question, does it.

1) The plastic must be confirmed to be a thermoset. Meaning... it can't melt at elevated temperatures

2) a vehicle must be applied to your plastic in order to promote a "like metal" flow of electron around the part sufficient enough for the powder to stick to.

3) some plastics have a number stamped into them ( look on a soda bottle or milk jug... the number classifies the grade of polymer) this is how you denote what your material is. Not all plastics have this though, so don't be surprised if yours doesn't have one. Sometimes at best, they have a date stamp on them ( a little dial looking indicator) for batch control purposes.

4) yes, you can add an elastomer to powder coating but it's not recommended for you. The coatings that you use already have sufficient enough in the formulation and are flexible enough to withstand any normal use of bend or fold.

Hope that helps..... Russ

[sterner2]

Yes it does.. thanks. I will review the suggested thread as well.

[mcaswell]

We've just recieved a sample of a new product, an electroless copper, that is SUPPOSED to plate onto plastics.

1st attempt yesterday - well, I'd rather not talk about that!

Who said it all had to be easy

[Carcher7878]

I was thinking of the same thing. i am having my fuel tank on my CBR 900RR coated, and was thinking of a paint match to go with a black chrome base with a candy red topcoat. kinda a black cherry effect. But the fairings are around alot of heat, I mean they are right next to the engine. My legs get hot and burn sometimes because of the heat. This silver spray, Does it actually work? where I can spray it on my plastics, and coat them?

Caswell, this is something that I really want to try, because if it works, Ya know how much business I can get just powder coating sportbike plastics! Do you guys have samples? I am interested in this. I think I am going to try this on a crunchy piece that I have laying around somewhere.

[Jay87T]

I have powder coated plastic, the center caps of my 300zx rims are plastic, heres a pic, color came out abit different but now it seems to blend right in.

[Carcher7878]

but how did you get the powder to stick to it with no static electric?

[Jay87T]

well, I didnt even need the power on the machine to do it, I just blew the nice
powder over the part and sorta built up a layer of it, its sorta just sits on it like dust then Gently placed it in the oven.

[WAORacing]

What is originally on the plastic center caps. Any car! Is it paint or is it powder coat?

[Jay87T]

Im gonna have to say powder coat cause I sandblasted the center caps and found there was a thin layer of copper under the paint/powder not sure. regardless the copper was 2 torn up to salvage, so I took it all off and just powdercoated on bare plastic.