Surface Treatment 101

Coatings, How it's coated
27GIU

Why and how are 3D printed parts coated?

Today, 3D printed components made in the most diverse materials are increasingly widespread, thanks to the possibilities offered by this fast, inexpensive, and waste-free production technology conceived for prototyping or manufacturing parts with complex geometries. However, even these parts are subject to wear, corrosion, and harsh environmental conditions that can compromise their aesthetic and functional characteristics. Therefore, they must be protected with a surface coating. In this article, we analyse why and how plastic and metal 3D components are coated.

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Coatings, How it's coated
23MAG

How are automotive plastic components coated?

In the automotive industry, the use of plastics is becoming more and more common as it improves the functionality of vehicles while enabling to apply more attractive and refined finishes. In this article, we explore why plastic materials are increasingly being used in the automotive sector, why they are painted, and what steps are included in their coating cycle.

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How it's coated
26LUG

How the Louvre Abu Dhabi is coated

The Louvre Abu Dhabi attracts millions of visitors every year. Located on Sa'diyyat Island, its building is considered a unique piece of architecture. This article explores how the Abu Dhabi museum of art and civilisation was built and painted.

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How it's coated
08GIU

How to paint a space rover

In this article, we take a closer look at the characteristics of paints for space applications and at how they are applied, taking as an example the paintwork of Perseverance, the space rover of NASA's Mars 2020 mission.

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How it's coated
10FEB

How do you paint an aircraft?

Painting an aircraft is a very complex process that requires up to two weeks of work and, sometimes, over one thousand litres of paint. Coatings are certainly important to improve aesthetics, but their main role is actually to protect the aeroplane against corrosion while improving its aerodynamic properties. 

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