Hi Folks,
Does anyone have a suggestion about how to get an extremely bright silver coating on a carbon sandwich structure?
We’re planning on using a black base coating (inmold or sprayed), as a UV blocker and then a very shiny silver coating with a deep metallic effect on the surface. What would be the highest end solution in your view?
Thanks,
N
Hi Nash
Hands down one of the best is http://www.tcpglobal.com/hokpaint/hok-kosmic-krome.aspx
Expensive but get the one best Finnishes. Used on most of the best show cars on the planet.
With there color range you will find something that fits what you need. From metallic to chorme paint.
Most the bright color are backed up with white to make them pop. I paint in mold and lay up on it the next day. Last coat is undercoat and give epoxy something to bit into.
Also check out SEM plaints. Very similar also.
Tim
Could you please be more specific on the kind of undercoat you use?
Hi Timbuck, Thanks! Have you heard or or tried something called liquid mirror? I’ve read about it that its also something to consider.
Berridos, as I’m not into paints, I was thinking of first trying to figure out the topcoat and then the other layers based on the compatibility with the topcoat.
Just saw a few videos on spray on chrome, that could be interesting, for a part but it seems to be extremely expensive. Anyone has tried these on carbon or glass?
Donno, I’m still groping in the dark. Thanks to you both.
N
Spectra makes a spray on chrome finish that is really nice although the startup kit is a little pricey. Here’s a link: http://www.sprayonchrome.com/index2.html
There was a company I saw ads for a couple of years ago that had rattle cans of spray chrome that looked like it might be something for the small project market. I never saw it firsthand but the photos on the web looked pretty good. I can’t remember the name but you might try a search.
Herman, Will look into that, has any of your customers used it?
Roger, yes, Spectra, and a bunch of others also use this technique. There’s a supplier in the UK as well. Its an expensive and elaborate process. I’ll be giving this one the first shot though. But we cannot use it on the entire surface due to embedded antennae. The outer surface in this process gets coated with silver, using mirror producing techniques. I have no real experience with this tho.
Last time I checked, Alsa sold their Alsachrome paint in aerosol cans. I haven’t used it myself, but in my experience with other products they make I have always found them to be of very high quality.
I’m pretty sure that’s the rattle can stuff I was thinking of.