DECORATION ON plastiCs
Technical conditions
There are so many plastic materials that, inevitably, conditions many differ according to the chosen material.
As a general statement, plastic materials decoration can be realized from 140°C up to 200°C in certain cases, as it is for Corian.
Shiny colours with high accuracy of your details !
Some plastic materials are really adapted to sublimation, other less, and others not at all. Indeed, as we already know, on one hand the material must resist to a temporary temperature exposition, and on the other hand, the material molecular structure has to accept the migration of gazeous inks in its surface.
Plastic materials particularly adapted to sublimation are PBT, but also POM, some Polyalides (PA6, PA6.6, PA6.12), and Corian ®. These are the main materials, but the list in not exhaustive. They can be glass fibers reinforced or not, according to the final needs.
Other plastic materials, not naturally sublimatable, can also be previously coated with a dedicated coating. Finally, materials with a low melting temperature are not conceivable for sublimation.
About shrinkage :
During the process of sublimation, and thus exposition to heat, plastics may retract a little bit. It is important to consider this point at the begining of your project. Shrinkage may vary from 0,1% to 3% according to the chosen material and the percentage of glass fibers (if any).
Submit us your projects, as soon as possible in your project management (if possible, before the realization of your moulds or toolings) and Pacific Colour will provide you with the best advices !
