Surface Treatments and Finishes

• Surface Treatments and Finishes

  • Improve functionality and aesthetics
  • Protect products and fix common problems
  • Keep quality high
• Surface treatments and finishes for paper and board

  • Additives to help ink dry
  • Embossing
  • Varnish
  • UV varnish
• Additives to help ink dry

  To help speed up the rate of printing, an additive can be put into ink to help it dry quicker so stacks of printing can be produced without sticking or smearing print
• Embossing


  Gives paper a texture by sending it through embossing rollers
• Varnish


  A top coat of thin varnish on paper or card will create a shiny smooth finish and give it some protection from moisture
• UV varnish


  Gives the same protection as varnish but can be applied to spots of paper giving a shiny finish or the whole sheet. It is set with an Ultra violet light. It is particularly useful on paper which will be handled a lot
• Surface treatments and finishes for timber and board

  • Seasoning
  • Tanalising
  • Varnish, wax and paint
• Seasoning


  Wood that has been cut down is full of moisture and will rot and warp if used straight away. Once stripped of its bark and sliced it has to be stored dry and flat
• Tanalising


  Outdoor wood needs tantalising to prevent rot. Once seasoned it is dipped in a tank of preservative with the air removed to force the preservative into the grain as deep as possible. It is then dried and ready to use. This will prevent rot and insect damage
• Varnish, wax and paint

  To create a smooth finish and protective layer you can coat your wood. Varnish and wax are see through so keep the grain of the wood visible, paint covers the wood completely. As long as the rough grain is sanded between layers you can make a smooth protective finish
• Surface treatments and finishes for metal

  • Annealing
  • Dipcoating
  • Galvanising
• Annealing


  Heating a metal and allowing it to cool slowly makes a metal ductile and easier to bend without snapping
• Dipcoating


  Heating the metal and dipping it into plastic grains which melt to a smooth finish around it creates a comfortable and less thermo conductive handle
• Galvanising


  Because ferrous metals rust easily it is galvanised by giving it a protective layer of zinc
• Surface treatments and finishes for polymers (plastics)

  • UV stabilising
  • Printing and vinyl decals
  • Polishing edges
• UV stabilising


  Ultra violet light (daylight) can damage the structure of polymers. Whilst liquid a UV stabilising chemical can be added to stop the degradation. Particularly used in outdoor furniture
• Printing and vinyl decals

  Polymers can also be printed on and have vinyl decals made to be glued on. These can protect against rust and be decorative (as in a sign written vehicle)
• Polishing edges


  Edges can be polished to a high shine using fine grit
• Surface treatments and finishes for textiles


  • Flame retardant spray
  • Dye and ink
  • Flame proof fibres
  • Anti stain
  • Moisture resistance
• Flame retardant spray


  Legally soft furnishings and nightwear have to be resistant to fire. They are sprayed with a flame retardant spray
• Dye and ink


  Can be added to the surface of textiles to give decoration. This can be screen printed, applied by rollers or ink jet printed
• Flame proof fibres


  Racing drivers and fire fighters require lightweight, cool fabrics (such as cotton) but have flame retardant fibres woven into the fabric
• Anti stain


  Additives such as silicone and Teflon can make fabric resistant to stains. This is often seen in school uniforms which need to be hard wearing
• Moisture resistance


  Mildew is a sort of mould which can cause fabrics to rot, it thrives in damp conditions. A spray can be added to make a product damp resistant
• Surface treatments and finishes for electronics

  • Anodising PCB boards
  • Lacquer and lubrication for PCBs
• Anodising PCB boards


  Photosensitive PCB board has the surface anodised with aluminium to improve the surface hardness
• Lacquer and lubrication for PCBs


  Lacquer and lubrication can be sprayed onto PCB's to avoid damage from moisture