Painting Plastic
Customize the Color of Your Thermoformed Part with Plastic Painting
How Does Plastic Painting Work?
One of the advantages of thermoformed parts is that the base materials (semi-finished products) can be pre-colored in the desired shade. However, certain limitations in procurement must be considered. In some cases, the desired color can only be applied after the thermoforming process. This is where "off-mold decorations" come into play: thermoformed parts are painted after shaping. Below, we explain the benefits and possibilities of plastic painting.
When is Plastic Painting Necessary?
Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs)
Specific (RAL) color requirements may demand quantities that are too low to justify custom-colored material extrusion.
Special Effects with Plastic Painting
While base materials are typically pigmented before extrusion, special finishes—such as matte or high-gloss surfaces—must be applied later through painting.
Multicolored Plastic Parts
When different color zones are required on the same part, direct pre-colored extrusion is not an option, making plastic painting the ideal solution.
Which Plastics can be Painted?
Compared to metal surfaces, plastics naturally have low adhesion properties due to their porosity and surface energy. Therefore, two-component polyurethane (2K-PUR) paints are commonly used. These offer excellent adhesion to plastics, resulting in durable and robust finishes.
The following plastics can be painted:
- ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
- PC (Polycarbonate)
- PMMA (Acrylic/Plexiglass)
- PA (Polyamide/Nylon)
- And more…
Whether you want to paint plastic black or choose another custom color, formary makes it possible!
Properties of Paintable Plastics
Learn about the characteristics of plastics that can be painted, so you can start your thermoforming project immediately.
Plastic Painting – Options and Benefits
- Coverage: Full-surface or selective painting
- Colors: All RAL shades available
- Finish: High-gloss, matte, or textured coating
Other Surface Treatment Methods
Looking for alternatives to plastic painting? We provide all the necessary details on additional finishing techniques.
