Plastic parts, unlike steel parts, often are contaminated with mold release agents. The part is then sealed, color coated and clearcoated.Īfter inspecting a new part for damage, it must be cleaned to remove any contaminants deposited during manufacturing. The part must be sanded and cleaned, then anti-static and/or adhesion promoter is applied. Painting new unprimed plastic first requires a thorough cleaning of the part: soap and water washing, removing mold release agents, chemical cleaning and inspection are all parts of the pre-sanding cleaning. They also will need to know that refinishing a repaired plastic part and finishing an undamaged part each require different preparation steps and precautions. Painters may be called upon to paint plastic parts that are in differing conditions such as new unprimed parts and new but primed parts. Once the type of plastic has been determined, the tech can decide the proper painting approach for the item. Parts that are made from Olefin Polymers must have an adhesion promoter used before refinishing to assure that the finish will not delaminate later.
Sem plastic painnt code#
Plastic parts have a plastic identification ISO code molded into the back that identify the type of plastic from which the part was made. Parts also can be made from many different compounds such as Thermoplastic Olefin (TPO), Polyurethane (TPUR), Acrylonitrilebutadiene-Styrene (ABS), Sheet Moldable Compound (SMC) or Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP), just to name a few. In contrast, mirrors and grilles are made with a Thermoset plastic. Many flexible parts on a vehicle such as front and rear fascia are made of a Thermoplastic material that when heated will become even more flexible. The two main categories of plastics used are Thermoplastic, a type of plastic that will soften when heated, and Thermoset, which after it hardens or cures, will not soften when heated. Though we use the general term "plastic" to identify many different non-metal parts, there is a staggering array of plastics used in manufacturing a vehicle. The stages of painting plastic, while similar to painting steel, involve many special steps and products that must be used to insure the type of high quality and longevity that is demanded in today's collision repair market.īefore a painter can develop a paint plan for a plastic part, he or she must identify what type of plastic was used to make that part. These special instructions differ for finishing new unprimed plastic and repaired plastic, and also for refinishing undamaged, previously finished products. In fact, almost every automotive or paint manufacturer provides special instructions that should be followed when finishing plastic. Make sure everyone in your shop knows what to do to get the job done right.Īlthough painting plastic incorporates many of the same techniques used when painting other types of materials, there are special procedures and precautions used when painting plastic to insure a long lasting quality finish. There are special procedures and precautions used when painting plastic to insure a long-lasting quality finish.