Satin finishing

Satinising is a process in which the surface of glossy plastics is treated to give it a matt texture. This is typically done by various methods such as etching, sandblasting or by using moulds that already produce textured surfaces.

In etching, a chemical solution is used to etch the surface of the plastic and remove the glossy particles, resulting in a matt surface. In sandblasting, fine sand or other abrasive particles are blasted onto the surface of the plastic to treat and matt it. Moulds can also be used to produce textured surfaces during the manufacture of the plastic, which reduce the gloss and create a matt surface.

By masking, satinising can be partially controlled by covering certain areas of the plastic surface while leaving others exposed so that they can be satinised. This makes it possible to achieve targeted effects and to leave certain parts of the surface glossy while others are mattified.