How To Dye Acrylic Plastic
Dyeing acrylic is to use a mixture of acetone and liquid RIT disperse dye in a certain ratio, normally 4:3, at room temperature to soak acrylic products. This technique can be used to achieve long-lasting colors on acrylic product surfaces.
Why Dye Acrylic Plastic?
Acrylic sheets，Acrylic tubes, Acrylic rods can be found online in several colors that are transparent, translucent, mirrored, or opaque. There are several benefits that dyeing acrylic at home by yourself.
- Save cost because Clear acrylic is cheaper than colored and available in many thicknesses.
- The dyes can be mixed in any proportion to produce almost any custom color including those not in the acrylic shop
- create interesting decorative coloring for you
Tools and Materials to be prepared for Dyeing Acrylic
Get the tools and materials as much as you can in your home or buy them from the shop. if you can find the same tool, find something similar.
- Clear Acrylic ornaments
- Disperse dye specifically made for synthetic materials
- Portable hot plate
- Pyrex glass container that is no longer used for food preparation
- Rubber gloves
- Stirring rod
- Hot water
- tongs to remove the dyed workpiece
- Thermometer
- Isopropyl alcohol
Dyeing Acrylic Plastic: Step by Step
- Protect your workspace with newspapers and a garbage bag. Clear off your work surface and cover it with a garbage bag and newspapers.
- Clean your object before dyeing it. Remove any stickers with warm soapy water to create a smooth look for your object.
- Select glass container that will hold enough fluid to cover your acrylic object completely. Fill the pot with hot water. Put on your rubber gloves.
- Use a measuring cup to determine the volume of dye bath needed to cover the part.
- Once the volume of the bath is determined, Pour the packet of Disperse dye into the container. Use Stirring rod to stir the dye until it has dissolved. Mix water to dye in a 3:1 ratio (e.g., 300 ml water to 100 ml water).
- Add carrier (isopropyl alcohol or acetone) in a quantity that is 25% volume of dye and water mixture.
- With a thermometer in the bath, gently heat the bath until it reaches 185 degrees Fahrenheit (85 degrees Celsius). The carrier will already be boiling out of the solution at this point. Immerse acrylic and keep agitated.
- Leave the pieces in the dye for 10 minutes. For a richer color, you can dye for longer. Check the Plexiglas by quickly lifting them out of the dye with the tongs.
- When proper color intensity is obtained, remove from the bath and rinse in cool water.
- Dry the object, Place the object on a protected, waterproof surface to air dry.
Liquid Dye Bath Compositions recommendation
| liquid RIT DyeMore and parts water ratio | Temperature for Dyeing （℉） | Carrier |
| 1:3 | 185 | Acetone 25% by volume |
| 1:3 | 200 | Isopropyl Alcohol 30% by volume |
Tips for Dyeing Acrylic plastic
- Safety first
- Fire Hazard attention
- Extruded acrylic dyes are easier than cast acrylic.
- To increase color intensity, prolong immersion into the dye bath or add more dye.
- Some dyes can tint lightly without carrier if a subtle color is desired.
Conclusion
Dyeing Acrylic plastic is not hard if you prepare well and follow the step above, you can get a perfect result of dyeing your acrylic part. Contact us if you still have questions. KUSLA provide high-quality clear acrylic sheet and colored acrylic sheet also acrylic rod, acrylic tubes.
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