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Vinyl Application to Plastics |
Paul Faix, Signtrade, Australia |
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Plastics are challenging, according to experts. Some are friendly and some are not. Out gassing is a possibility much of the time. Therefore when you encounter a plastic substrate, you need to know its chemical composition. Polycarbonates, for example, which are frequently used for equipment housings, exterior automotive components, outdoor lighting fixtures, and non-automotive vehicle windows, contain just enough water to yield bubbles in the film.
Poly (methyl methacrylate), commonly called PMMA, is a clear plastic typically used as shatterproof replacement for glass. Most standard adhesives will adhere readily to PMMA, but, again, you may wind up with bubbles if you try to apply vinyl using the dry installation method. Pros admit plastics are a suitable substrate for wet application. (For more information on wet applications, read "When to Apply Your Vinyl Wet").
Polyethylene is the most popular plastic in the world. Plastic bags, shampoo bottles and tarps are made of this material. However, applying vinyl to this substrate is not a popular option. Installing vinyl on this type of plastic requires special adhesives, high temperatures and a dry application method to ensure a solid bond.
Polystyrene is a hard plastic. The housing of computers is typically made from this material.
Styrofoam is also made from this material. This is a tricky substrate because it can change adhesive properties and result in the film actually shrinking away from the surface. Polyvinylchloride (PVC) is adhesion friendly – maybe a little too much so. Applying to rigid PVC could result in vinyl that is difficult if not impossible to remove. Softer PVCs have an almost opposite problem of vinyl shrinking away from the substrate unless special adhesives are used.
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