Can you paint uhmw plastic

Mark Forums Read. Send a private message to Maxrate. Find all posts by Maxrate. Send a private message to David Paule. Find all posts by David Paule. You can change the color with RIT dye for clothes.. Send a private message to gasman. Find all posts by gasman. Posts: 1, Send a private message to noelf. Find all posts by noelf. This technology now allows polyethylene products to be considered for applications previously unsuited to this material.

You can now have any of the following paint schemes on polyethylene rotomouldings. Enhance the surface appearance like Pinholes Pinhole Free Surface for hygienic: No accumulation of dust and dirt on the surface.

However, it must be fastened in the bent or folded position until cooled. The liner should be thicker in impact areas and thinner in slide areas. Important notes: UHMW cannot be firmly fastened to metals because of a large difference in thermal expansion. UHMW expands five times as fast as steel and three times as fast as aluminum and about the same as wood but slightly more than concrete.

Fasteners are the best way to secure UHMW to metal. The UHMW must be allowed to expand or float. Large flat head fasteners must be used. Fastener shaft holes in UHMW must be over-sized to allow for sheet expansion and contraction. Back to Materials. Where is UHMW used? There are three tests you can perform: Burn Test — light it with a match and smell the smoke.

If it smells like candle wax — that indicates polyethylene. Oven Test — place it in an aluminum dish in a degree oven. However, it could warp or distort due to built in stresses. What is the temperature range of UHMW? What are the heat characteristics of UHMW? Does UHMW degrade at higher temperatures? What chemicals affect UHMW? How does the environment affect UHMW? Wind — no effect Rain or sea water — no effect Sun without protection — depends on thickness and location.

The thicker the better. In Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, and other desert areas — less than one year. What is the flammability of UHMW? I don't know how much I have left but if it will work I'll send it to you.

Bob C. I was standing in our local metal and plastic supplier's a couple of weeks ago and was asking for 2 and 3 inch UHMW round stock in red or orange. The supplier only had it in white. Another guy piped up and said that he made model racing car parts out of UHMW and claimed to have dyed parts all the time. Never tried it myself but I think for the cost of the dye, it would be worth trying it at least once.

I don't imagine dye penetration would be great but maybe good enough for what you are doing. You could try painting it with Krylon Fusion. Anybody that claims to have dyed polyethelene probably didn't know they were working with nylon. Nylon takes dye just fine. Last edited by dockrat ; , PM. Replies Thanks for all of the replies.

I figured UHMW was pretty stable stuff and not easily colored but it doesn't hurt to ask the experts. I'll try to find some black colored plastic for my project.