Our functional features

Transparent plastics — polycarbonate in particular — are commonly used in eye and face protection equipment due to the ease with which they can be processed, their low weight, their high strength and their high transparency. An abrasion-resistant coating is usually applied to extend their lifespan. In challenging circumstances, however, this type of coating may cause condensation to form on the visor. To prevent this, we offer a range of excellent fog-resistant coatings. These fully transparent coatings prevent miniscule drops of condensation from forming on the surface, even in the most challenging of weather conditions. We can apply these coatings to both flat and formed elements.

Another area in which this coating proves extremely useful is in technical components where condensation may pose a problem. In these situations, our fog-resistant coatings ensure that sensors keep functioning and displays remain easy to read.

Case study:

• Fog-resistant coating for respirator masks

Plastic offers a huge range of benefits, including its weight, the ease with which it can be processed, and its impact strength. Even so, it does have one weakness: it is highly susceptible to getting scratched and tarnished while being used. To prevent this, we offer a range of transparent coatings that offer excellent scratch resistance.

That way, your product stays looking new much longer, and its lifespan is extended multifold — an important consideration when it comes to visible components such as windows and displays on electronic devices.

Explore a selection of case studies in which our abrasion-resistant coatings have offered added value:

• Windows for industrial gates
• Supermarket doors
• Glazing in public spaces
• Display covers for charging points
• Hard coating for a design table lamp
• Windshields for motorbikes and mopeds

Vandalism is a real concern in many public applications. Replacing glass with polycarbonate goes some way towards solving this problem: it is 250 times more impact resistant, meaning it is often considered an indestructible solution. Even so, one problem remains: flat surfaces are often soiled with graffiti or paint. To prevent this, we offer a coating that is extremely hydrophobic, or water repellent. That way, graffiti, paint, or even permanent marker gets no chance to bond with the plastic. Any paint will simply draw away, contract and fail to adhere, leaving the “artist” unable to complete their work and causing them to abandon it. Any paint or ink that does dry on the surface can simply be removed. 

As such, this coating also makes surfaces easier to clean: dirt does not stick to the surface, meaning the component in question can be cleaned in a flash.

Plastics are susceptible to damage from a huge range of chemicals. This particularly presents a challenge in applications for use in laboratories that may be exposed to highly corrosive products. That said, chemical damage also poses a risk in everyday applications. The trend for deep cleaning in recent years has resulted in cleaning products containing components that are increasingly corrosive, causing your product to turn yellow or become tarnished over time. To prevent this, we offer a range of highly chemically resistant coatings that form a barrier to protect the plastic.

Case study:

• Glazing in chemical appliance

For injection-moulded components in polycarbonate, for example, outdoor use can present a problem. UV light from the sun and weather conditions such as temperature and humidity can cause the plastic to degrade. Applying an abrasion-resistant coating with UV blockers protects your component against these influences and extends its lifespan by several years.

Case study:

• Display covers for charging points

Nearly all coatings in our range are also available in a thermoformable version. This enables us to apply an abrasion or fog-resistant coating to a flat sheet before forming that sheet using heat, without the coating failing. We use thermoformable coatings in the production of our visors, for example.

That way, we don’t need to apply any coating to the formed product, preventing any visible lines and eliminating any post-processing. Using a thermoformable coating can deliver significant efficiency gains.