Can HDPE be easily painted ?

Posted by Pogo on March 22, 2007, 3:03 am

Since HDPE is so difficult to glue, I was wondering if it can be painted =
with off the shelf paints like Krylon spray, etc. I'm guessing these =
would not adhere well to it ?

Thanks !

Posted by Pogo on March 22, 2007, 7:43 am

Since HDPE is so difficult to glue, I was wondering if it can be painted =
with off the shelf paints like Krylon spray, etc. I'm guessing these =
would not adhere well to it ?

As Roseanna Anna Danna used to say " ... never mind!".

This is just one of the many references I found from Googling on HDPE:

"One idea is to use, if available, a 'waxed' paint product. We used to =
mark Pe containers with wax crayons (showing liquid/gallonage levels) =
and then HEAT those markings ... and as Pe is a long chain wax olefin, =
ah, those markings would become indelibly fused in place.
Anyhow, food for thought....and yes, Pe like PP, unless specially =
treated (expensive !) won't allow for a good painted surface as you have =
found out!"

Got that info from this page: http://www.finishing.com/333/59.shtml

Anyway ... thanks for any input !
JCD

Posted by John Nagle on March 22, 2007, 8:41 pm

Pogo wrote:

> Since HDPE is so difficult to glue, I was wondering if it can be painted with

off the shelf paints like Krylon spray, etc. I'm guessing these would not adhere
well to it ?

>
> Thanks !

Not without priming. There are primers for plastics that will break
the long-chain bonds in the polymer, so the paint has something to which it
can adhere.

The consumer version of this is "Rust-Oleum Plastic Primer".

John Nagle

Posted by Joe on March 22, 2007, 9:42 pm

On Mar 22, 2:03 am, "Pogo"

> Since HDPE is so difficult to glue, I was wondering if it can be painted with

off the shelf paints like Krylon spray,

I think you can dye it to an extent. In some drug stores, and places
like Walmart, they are in the washing-machine detergent area. (When
you dye clothes, you normally do it in a washer.)

I don't recall if it is used as is, or if it is made acidic by adding
vinegar (like when you dye Easter eggs).

Either way, be sure to wash it well afterwards, so you don't start
transfering dye to people's hands, etc.

Joe Dunfee

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