Certainly not a wood issue, but I have seen a number of posts here
indicating serious experience by some in the wonderful world of plastics.
I am looking for a way to permanently color finished low density
polyethylene. I'm working with thick LDPE (over 1" thick sheets to start)
and it only comes in white. If I were molding the stuff, problem could be
solved - but I'm not.
Is there a dye or some coloring process I can use? I assume it is tough
(even if possible) since even my markings with an "indelible" Sharpie
quickly rub off. This is true whether I write on a slick surface as it
came from the factory on a cut surface. I'd like to be able to put the
pieces in a small tub of the color and then fish them out - like coloring
Easter eggs.
The problem may well be that LDPE seems designed to NOT bond with things.
Also, if the answer involves especially tricky chemicals, that won't work
either. Even a definitive, "No, cannot be done" would be helpful.
TIA. -- Igor
"igor" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Certainly not a wood issue, but I have seen a number of posts here
> indicating serious experience by some in the wonderful world of plastics.
>
> I am looking for a way to permanently color finished low density
> polyethylene. I'm working with thick LDPE (over 1" thick sheets to start)
> and it only comes in white. If I were molding the stuff, problem could be
> solved - but I'm not.
>
> Is there a dye or some coloring process I can use? I assume it is tough
> (even if possible) since even my markings with an "indelible" Sharpie
> quickly rub off. This is true whether I write on a slick surface as it
> came from the factory on a cut surface. I'd like to be able to put the
> pieces in a small tub of the color and then fish them out - like coloring
> Easter eggs.
>
> The problem may well be that LDPE seems designed to NOT bond with things.
> Also, if the answer involves especially tricky chemicals, that won't work
> either. Even a definitive, "No, cannot be done" would be helpful.
>
> TIA. -- Igor
You could read the "bad news" here
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen01/gen01553.htm
On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 12:08:31 +0900, "Adam Weber" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
>"igor" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> The problem may well be that LDPE seems designed to NOT bond with things.
>> Also, if the answer involves especially tricky chemicals, that won't work
>> either. Even a definitive, "No, cannot be done" would be helpful.
>>
>
>You could read the "bad news" here
>http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen01/gen01553.htm
>
Well, as I said, ... Thanks.
> "igor" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> Is there a dye or some coloring process I can use? I assume it is tough
>> (even if possible) since even my markings with an "indelible" Sharpie
>> quickly rub off. This is true whether I write on a slick surface as it
>> came from the factory on a cut surface. I'd like to be able to put the
>> pieces in a small tub of the color and then fish them out - like coloring
>> Easter eggs.
I don't know how well it works for that material, but years ago, we used to
dye nylon and a couple of other plastics using Rit dye. The supermarket
stuff for fabrics. Just mix it in a tub and soak the parts.
Many plastics today are formulated to resist staining and this could be one
of them. It has been many years since I did it. What have you got to lose
but maybe 2 bucks?