7.11.2

Surface Finishes

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Surface Finishes

Products may require a finish adding to it. This will be to improve the function or the aesthetics (look) of the product.

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Metal

  • Dip coating - air blown on powder to make it act like a liquid and dipping the metal in it.
  • Powder coating - metal is sprayed with the powder which is attracted to it as the metal is electrically charged.
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Polymers

  • Plastics are usually polished to make them bright and shiny.
  • Some plastics can have stickers (vinyl) attached.
  • Some plastics can be printed onto for example sublimation printing.
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Timber: paint

  • Paint comes in various forms (water based, oil based, solvent based) and can be applied by a brush or sprayed onto the material.
  • Paints make sure that the product is protected and it looks nice.
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Timber: varnish

  • Varnish is a tough, waterproof and heatproof finish that comes in a range of colours.
  • Varnish is usually applied in 3 coats with a brush, it can be smoothed by using a fine glasspaper.
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Timber: tanalising

  • Tanalising is used for garden furniture and fences.
  • The timber is placed in a vacuum which increases the pressure that forces the preservative into the material.

Surface Finishes

Products may require a finish adding to it. This will be to improve the function or the aesthetics (look) of the product.

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Textile

  • Block and screen printing adds patterns to material.
  • Textiles can be dyed or tie dyed to add colour and pattern to material.
  • Fabric can also be treated with stain resistant finishes that stop stains from embedding into the material.
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Paper and board

  • Most papers and board are printed on using techniques like screen printing or block printing.
  • Items that are mass produced will be printed using commercial printing techniques such as lithography, flexography, letter pressing and gravure techniques.
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Paper and board cont.

  • Embossing is when a shape is pressed into the paper or board (a steel die is used) to make it stand out. This improves the visual look of the product
  • Ultraviolet varnishing involves putting a glossy coat to the paper or board that is then dried using ultraviolet light.
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Electronic and mechanical

  • Printed circuit boards (PCB) are lacquered with a clear waterproof layer that protects the tracks and components without affecting how they work.
  • Mechanical parts are usually lubricated to reduce the friction, noise and heat.

Jump to other topics

1Core Technical Principles

2Paper & Board: Specialist Technical Principles

3Timber: Specialist Technical Principles

4Metal: Specialist Technical Principles

5Polymers: Specialist Technical Principles

6Textiles: Specialist Technical Principles

7Designing & Making Principles

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