Baking varnish and imitation enamel are both commonly used craftsmanship when making badges, metal ornaments, and souvenirs. In fact, if you put two badges with the same design but made by baking varnish and imitation enamel respectively, you can quickly observe the difference. However, if you only get one of the badges, how can you tell whether it is imitation enamel or baking varnish?
What is baking varnish?
For baking varnish, most manufacturers use copper baking varnish, which has bright colors and clear lines. There will be obvious bumps when touching the surface, and the price is relatively cheap.
What is imitation enamel?
The surface of imitation enamel is bright and smooth, and the color is glossy and has a high texture. The overall touch surface is smooth and flat, with only a slight touch of metal lines. The cost is higher than baking varnish, and it is relatively durable.
Differences between baking varnish and imitation enamel
Different materials
The material of imitation enamel is a paste-like colored resin, while baking varnish is a colored paint. After baking, because the two have different ways of treating color pigments, the resin used in imitation enamel will harden and give off a plastic feel, and it needs to be polished to remove excess color. After the color paint used in baking paint is dried, a colored paint film will be formed. If there is excess paint, it can be removed by wiping with an organic solvent.
Different processes
The main difference between the processes of imitation enamel and baking paint is the order of electroplating and coloring. Imitation enamel is electroplated after coloring and baking. Baking paint is baked and trimmed after electroplating. Due to the difference in the processes of the two, there are many differences in their characteristics.
Different surfaces
Due to differences in the manufacturing process and raw materials, the surface of imitation enamel is smooth and flat, while that of baking paint is concave and convex. The colored part of imitation enamel and the metal line are basically on the same plane, and the naked eye cannot easily distinguish the difference. It will feel slightly convex when touched by hand, but this is obviously different from the concave and convex feeling of baking paint badges. The metal lines or metal surfaces of baking paint are more convex, while the colored parts are concave.
Different durability
Imitation enamel is more durable than baking varnish. In the process of making imitation enamel, a metal protective layer of electroplating will be produced at the end, so it is less likely to be scratched. Although baking varnish, which is electroplated first and then colored, has a clear three-dimensional effect, the metal part is also more easily worn. Therefore, some people will add a layer of transparent resin (Poly) on the outside of the baking varnish to prevent the baking varnish from being scratched and falling off.
In fact, there is no difference between baking varnish and imitation enamel. It depends on the characteristics of the required product. If you don’t have much budget and want to make a badge with a three-dimensional effect and bright colors, you can choose baking varnish. If you want the product to have a high texture and be more durable, imitation enamel technology is your good choice.
Post time: Jul-29-2024