Did 2 signs recently which involved foil over vinyl on lexan, (the foil does not touch the lexan). The customer called within 2 days to say the signs were bubbling ?? I understood the problem to be outgassing from the lexan, however the bubbles (big & many) are between the foil and the vinyl (can vinyl outgas??). The vinyl and the foil were both applied dry. What's up and what's the cure?? I'm leary about pricking the foil as every blemish will show. It looks like I'll be redoing the signs, but how can I avoid this problem.
"The best things in life aren't things" Art Buchwald
Posted by Pierre St.Marie (Member # 1462) on :
Hey, Mike.......how big were the panels? Did you apply wet or dry? Did you apply it inside or outside in the sun? Was the Lexan the UV type? Did you allow the lexan to sit for a time without the protective overlay? Was teh film Premium? Explain a bit mnore. :^) BTW......here's one I've never seen on this forum. Vinyl film has a "time cure" for the adhesive. It requires 72 hours at a 65 degree minimum to effect a cure. Very often I hear of film applications that go on Lexan (particularly) and are immediately put out in the sun. The adhesive HASN'T CURED!
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
[This message has been edited by pierre (edited July 26, 2000).]
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
What kind of foil are you talking about?
------------------ Compost Happens!
:) Design is Everything! :) Glenn Taylor in beautiful North Carolina
I can't beleive I'm gonna say this...Ok here go's; Pierre's (gulp) Right! Just kidding! But he is right. Lexan has to sit without it's plastic cover ( I say 3 days) and vinyl can let off gas. I seen this before with that chrome foil stuff on vinyl. Went on smooth but bubbled after.
------------------ Dennis Veenema The Sign Shop Dresden, Ont. "We Sign Everything"
Posted by Mike O'Neill (Member # 470) on :
Hmmm... on further inspection (knife in hand) it turns out the bubbles are under the vinyl, but occur only in areas which are covered in foil. The only explaination I can think of is that regular vinyl must 'breathe' enough to let the gasses through. We use lexan fairly often, and have never had a problem with outgassing. We do let it sit for a few hours without its wrap before applying vinyl, but I guess we'll have to let it sit much longer if we intend to use foils. The signs in this case were for indoor use, and the vinyl and the foil were applied in a climate controlled environment (70f, 25% humidity) and delivered to a store in a shopping mall.
Oh well, another lesson bought & paid for.
[Edit] Sorry Glenn .. missed your question ... Foil is gold chrome vinyl
