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Gloss Plastic Could Eliminate Auto Painting

Posted by michael on from the kick-the-fender dept.

customs writes "There is a new plastic out from GE that covers plastic surfaces with a really good sheen. It's more resistant to scratches and random chemicals compared to conventional paint. It's actually a .5 mm polymer called Sollx; the Segway was the first semi-mass-produced product to use it, it has slender two tone fenders. Kinda cool. Auto painting is the industries largest manufacturing expense, and this could be what they're looking for...as soon as the price comes down."

4 of 320 comments (clear)

  1. Thanks, But I'll keep my paint job by diablobynight · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What are the affects of the sun on this plastic. Because of the construction of most polymers, ultravolet radiation ussually has terrible affects on them. And how do you wax a piece of plastic? Will the whole world suddenly be driving Saturns?

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  2. Materials science by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Has given us Teflon, Kevlar, Lexan and host of other trademarked (but quality) materials. The impact of this tech tends to be below the radar of the average person, but is vastly important in the cost and quality of manufactured goods. The use of other materials such as titanium, aluminum and magnesium in objects traditionally made from steel or die-cast alloy has given us lighter and stronger engines, laptops and spacecraft not to mention medical devices.

    1. Re:Materials science by Havokmon · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Has given us Teflon, Kevlar, Lexan ....The impact of this tech tends to be below the radar of the average person

      No kidding.. my kids will probably never know what trying to clean a non-teflon coated pot is like.

      I don't know what Lexan is, but I work for Valeo (Fitness Gloves/Belts, and Industrial Safety), and we use Kevlar threads in some of our Material Handling gloves to give them longer life.. Things just don't fall apart as much as they used to. I just hope my kids don't grow up thinking this stuff was invented in a garage, and everyone needs free access immediately. Some companies spend millions on this research, and they deserve to make their money back - and then some. Only after a reasonable amount of time should it become public domain.

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  3. Correct me if im wrong by Unknown+Poltroon · · Score: 4, Insightful

    But dosent "scratch resistant" mean "Incredibly hard to fix once it has been scratched"?

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