Spraying Process for Eyewear

In the rich field of eyewear manufacturing, Metal Sunglasses stand out as a product that combines fashion and practicality. Among the various surface treatment processes, the spraying technique has gained attention for its unique advantages, making it an indispensable method for creating vibrant colors in metal eyewear. While titanium eyewear primarily employs IP plating, the spraying process also plays a crucial role in achieving diverse and vivid colors. Let's delve deeper into the spraying process for metal and titanium eyewear frames.

1. Principle of Spraying

The core of the spraying process involves evenly applying a layer of colored paint on the surface of the eyewear frame. This paint acts like a vibrant coat, not only providing rich colors but also offering some degree of protection to the frame. Through meticulous operation and formulation, a variety of unique color effects can be achieved, catering to different consumer demands for aesthetics and individuality.

2. Basic Spraying Process

• Cleaning the Frames: Thoroughly cleaning the eyewear frames is a crucial first step before any treatment. This step aims to remove dirt, grease, and impurities from the surface, ensuring smooth application and good adhesion of the paint.

• Electroplating Base Treatment: Depending on design requirements, a suitable base electroplating process is selected, such as nickel plating, IP, black chrome, or white chrome. The base plating not only enhances paint adhesion but also lays the groundwork for the final color effect, improving the frame's texture and durability.

• Drying: After the base treatment, the frames must be air-dried or baked to ensure the base layer fully cures, preparing for the spraying process.

• Spraying the Paint: Using specialized spraying equipment, the prepared colored paint is evenly applied to the frame's surface. This process requires precise control over the thickness, angle, and speed of spraying to ensure uniformity and consistency of the color.

• Second Drying: After spraying, the frames need to be dried again to allow the paint to fully cure and stabilize, forming a durable color coating.

• Quality Control (QC): Finally, after passing strict quality inspections, ensuring that the color, adhesion, and appearance meet the standards, the frames are ready for shipment.

3. Advantages and Disadvantages of Spraying

• Advantages: The primary advantage of the spraying process is the richness and glossiness of colors. By mixing different color powders, almost any desired hue can be achieved, whether it’s vibrant bright colors or soft tones. The good gloss also makes the eyewear frames appear more upscale and fashionable.

• Disadvantages: However, the spraying process has its drawbacks. One major issue is relatively weak adhesion, which can lead to fading of the coating, especially when subjected to friction or scratches. Additionally, the surface is more prone to scratches, affecting both aesthetics and durability.

4. Suitable Types of Eyewear

• Various Metal Frames: For different metal frames, the spraying process adds more color options, breaking the monotony of traditional metallic colors and meeting diverse consumer needs.

• Mid-Range and Budget Frames: In the production of mid-range and budget eyewear frames, the spraying process is widely used due to its relatively low cost and ability to achieve rich colors.

• Special Color Requirements: When certain colors that cannot be achieved through water plating or IP plating are needed, the spraying process becomes essential. For dual-color eyewear, such as combinations of gold and black, a gold electroplating is typically done first, followed by black spraying to present a unique dual-color effect through specialized treatments.

5. Color Surfaces in Spraying

The color surfaces achieved through the spraying process are diverse, generally including glossy, matte, dual-tone, and gradient finishes. Since colors are primarily created by mixing color powders, theoretically, any color requirement can be met, providing designers and consumers with vast creative possibilities.

6. Other Related Techniques

In the eyewear manufacturing industry, some manufacturers save costs and time by applying a thin layer of transparent oil on injection-molded or acetate frames after they are formed, increasing the shine of the eyewear's surface. However, this method does not achieve the same quality as frames that undergo meticulous polishing. Plastic and TR90 frames often use this technique due to material characteristics and cost considerations, while acetate frames, given their inherent texture and processing requirements, rarely employ this method.

Through a comprehensive understanding of the spraying process for metal and titanium eyewear frames, we can appreciate its significant role and unique charm in eyewear manufacturing. It not only brings rich colors and personalized choices to eyewear but also meets the diverse needs of different markets and consumers.

At Meilunmei, we are a dedicated eyewear manufacturer committed to delivering high-quality metal and titanium frames with exceptional color finishes. Let us help you create eyewear that reflects your unique style and vision.