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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Coating that looks like aluminum needed for plastic

I am looking for a paint or coating which will look like aluminum... polished or brushed aluminum. Here is the trick: it must be applicable to PLASTIC. Plastic as in plastic body work.I've spoken with Jet Hot and HPC about their ceramic coatings which look precisely like aluminum, but no go. The curing process involves heat treatment of up to 600° F., which would burn most plastics. Any ideas?

Jeff Stracco
- Morristown, New Jersey
2002

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Unfortunately I don't know your situation, Jeff -- including whether you are an individual wanting to coat a handful of parts, or an automotive engineer wanting to coat tens of thousands.

Certainly some plastic body parts can be electroplated with a brushed metal look. Virtually all shiny automobile grills are plated ABS plastic or re-inforced nylon. While these are usually chrome plated, I can't see any reason they couldn't be plated with a brushed nickel look instead.

Some plastics can also be vacuum metallized or sputtered. If you're an engineer for a car manufacturer these are very practical solutions to your question; but if you're a hobbyist they're probably not unless you wish to send the parts to a shop that offers plating on plastic. Good luck!

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2002

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