Letter 10814

Polyethylene 

How can I paint polyethylene?

Carlos Lara
- Mexico

Carlos,

To answer your question ... and all you asked was 'how do I paint Polyethylene' ... the reply is easy. Go ahead and paint!

Maybe what you meant but didn't say is HOW does one get a bond. Ah. The answer is simple. You don't.

Had you given more data, maybe I could have helped you. For instance, had you a round Pe tank, then use a latex paint all over (latex being somewhat flexible) so that entire tank is painted and the paint will, so-to-speak, bond to itself, but not (very well) to the Pe.

If it's a flat surface the paint would eventually come off.

Freeman Newton
- White Rock, B.C. Canada ... long time in plastics

I find the response to our Mexican friend's query about painting polyethylene to be rather "smart Alec"y. The helpful response, I believe, would be to advise him to use house exterior acrylic, which is more flexible, and will expand and contract without cracking.

For a technical bulletin on this subject, go to www.polyprocessing.com/pdf/technical/PaintingPEStorageTanks.pdf

Thanks,however for providing us with this forum on refinishing topics.

Sincerely,

Steve Currie
- Anchorage, AK. USA

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