ENGINEERING TECH TIPS | 2 MAY 2025
Polymer Coating
Tech Tips from Our Engineers at Bamberger Amco Polymers
What do your driver's license, a coaxial cable, and a raincoat have in common? They're all modified and enhanced through a process called polymer coating.
Polymer coating involves applying a thin layer of plastic material to the surface of a substrate. It's achieved through techniques like roller coating, curtain coating, or spraying. The coating polymer can be a liquid, a paste or a powder, and it can be applied to some, or all, sides of a substrate.
Polymer coatings can improve a material's UV resistance, slip resistance, corrosion resistance, anti-fog properties, or flame resistance. Coatings can also change the appearance of a material, adding a colors, creating a matte/glossed finish, or forming patterns.
Factors Considered When Selecting a Coating Resin
- The resin extrusion process
- The cost and availability of the coating resin
- The desired properties of the final product (such as strength, flexibility, and heat resistance)
- The compatibility of the coating resin with the substrate and any other materials that it will interact with
The temperature, pressure and speed of the extruder used in polymer coating must strike a delicate balance.
- The temperature must be high enough to melt the plastic but not so high that it degrades it.
- The pressure must be high enough to push the plastic through the die but not so high that the plastic becomes distorted.
- The speed must be fast enough to produce the desired amount of product but not so fast that it overworks the plastic.
Common Coating Materials
Whether they add scratch resistance to your passport, corrosion resistance to your phone cord, or waterproofing to your outerwear, polymer coatings provide indispensable features and solutions for countless items that you use daily.
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