Plastic components can be
given a metallic finish
Metallic finishes for plastic components
You can now have a metallic surface appearance in any of the following ways:
- Metalized. Pieces are sprayed with a material containing a high percentage of metal
- Self-colour metallic. The raw polymer mix gives a metallic effect right through the moulding
- High gloss conventional pearlescent or metallic paint applied to smooth or textured mouldings.
Metalized - This is a strikingly effective finish in the right setting. A special paint is now available which contains so much metal that it makes plastic look extraordinarily like metal. It is even cold to the touch. You can have a variety of looks such as copper, bronze, brass, silver, gold or aluminium. The effect is dull, so chrome or polished silver or gold are not possible.
Self-colour - This is the term for an item which is coloured all the way through and does not need further surface finishing (other than deflashing). tecni-form are developing this method further: at present they can achieve a variety of metallic silvers and greys. it is a comparatively inexpensive process and offers the advantage that the product still looks metallic even after the surface has been scuffed in use.
Painted - If you want to match the rotomoulded piece exactly to your product or major assembly, metallic paint is the way to do it. tecni-form are unique among UK moulders in their ability to paint polyethylene and polypropylene. By applying their special process, tecni-form can leave the surface ready for you to spray, or they can spray it before delivery.
A look around the tecni-form website The tecni-form website is designed to be a comprehensive resource for Industrial designers.
