Surface Treatment of Plastics
Grinding | Painting | Printing | Electroplating | Anti-Scratch Coatings | Annealing
Surface Treatment of Plastics for Thermoformed Parts
In thermoforming, pre-colored, textured, or UV-stabilized sheets and films are often used. This means that many surfaces already come out of the mold “finished.”
Nevertheless, certain components require additional finishing, for example for aesthetics (visible covers), branding (logo, color tone), protection (scratch-resistant, chemically resistant), or functionality (antistatic, conductive). formary offers a range of plastic surface treatment processes tailored to your component, its application, and your specific requirements.
Functional & aesthetic surface properties
Transparent or Translucent
A plastic surface that is clear or slightly translucent, often used for products where contents should remain visible.
Scratch-Resistant
Special coatings or plastic surface treatments that enhance resistance to scratches.
Anti-Reflective
Plastic surface treatments that reduce glare and reflections, commonly used for display covers or lenses.
Printing
The surfaces of thermoformed parts can be colored or printed with various patterns and designs.
Plastic surface finishing processes
Glossy
High-gloss plastic surfaces, often used for aesthetic applications.
Matte
A non-reflective, matte plastic surface, typically used for less conspicuous backgrounds.
Textured / Grained
Surfaces with various patterns or textures, such as wood grain, leather texture, or other embossed designs.
Flocked
The surface is covered with a thin layer of fine fibers or particles, known as flocking, creating a velvety appearance.
Electroplating
Metalized coatings applied using electroplating processes to achieve a high-quality appearance and improved functional properties such as electrical conductivity or corrosion protection.
Textured / effect coatings
Coatings applied before or after thermoforming give the surface a distinctive tactile feel (e.g. rough texture), visual effects (e.g. metallic gloss), or protective functions (e.g. protection against scratches, UV radiation, or chemical exposure).
Film lamination
In this process, a film is applied to the plastic surface before thermoforming. Depending on the film, it gives the component a high-quality appearance, a specific visual effect, improves durability, or enables various effects and additional functions.
Techniques for Surface Treatment of Plastics
Choose the appropriate technique to enhance your surface:
For which applications is surface finishing relevant?
Frequently asked questions about plastic surface treatment
Many sheet materials already come with color, texture, or UV stabilization. Additional surface treatment becomes necessary when visual quality, scratch resistance, branding, labeling, or functionality (e.g. anti-reflective properties) are important.
Learn More About Thermoforming
Want to learn more about thermoforming? Our webinars and explanations on the process provide further insights into plastic thermoforming.
