What Specfic Plastic Type is MIC?

[dcg2]

I've talked to a few companies that sell (expensive) specialty products for painting / dyeing plastic.

I've asked them about the MIC top but none of them can answer anything without knowing exactly what kind of plastic the MIC top is made out of. ALL I can find is that it's a thermoset plastic. Which is a class of plastics, but not a specific kind like polyesther resin or polyurethane.

Since Ford has pushed more people into the MIC top can we at least get some detail about what it's made out of?

Ding, ding, ding.... We have an answer:

The outer shell is polyacetal, or POM in the business, a very common automotive thermoplastic. I have no idea how it will take paint, that’s not my department.

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[ZackDanger]

This is everything we know at this point. It is from things posted on the forum by people who work in the factory(s).

 

[DieselSmack]

I've talked to a few companies that sell (expensive) specialty products for painting / dyeing plastic.

I've asked them about the MIC top but none of them can answer anything without knowing exactly what kind of plastic the MIC top is made out of. ALL I can find is that it's a thermoset plastic. Which is a class of plastics, but not a specific kind like polyesther resin or polyurethane.

Since Ford has pushed more people into the MIC top can we at least get some detail about what it's made out of?

This is everything we know at this point. It is from things posted on the forum by people who work in the factory(s).

I don't know specifically but its probably a mix of fibreglass and / or some version of Polycarbonate or ABS.

Source: I work in Auto Plastics

 

[dwbronco]

I've talked to a few companies that sell (expensive) specialty products for painting / dyeing plastic.

I've asked them about the MIC top but none of them can answer anything without knowing exactly what kind of plastic the MIC top is made out of. ALL I can find is that it's a thermoset plastic. Which is a class of plastics, but not a specific kind like polyesther resin or polyurethane.

Since Ford has pushed more people into the MIC top can we at least get some detail about what it's made out of?

Polymonoethylglycesterinerol

 

[dcg2]

Polymonoethylglycesterinerol

I was waiting for the "Nunya" response

 

[Slyder]

It would be nice to know what the specific kind of plastic is that's used in it.

I don't hate the latest version of the top, but if I end up not liking it as much in person, then it would be nice to know what kind of plastic makes up it's construction, so I can spray it, with one of the two products I know of, to better match the black trim.

 

[dcg2]

It would be nice to know what the specific kind of plastic is that's used in it.

I don't hate the latest version of the top, but if I end up not liking it as much in person, then it would be nice to know what kind of plastic makes up it's construction, so I can spray it, with one of the two products I know of, to better match the black trim.

I was looking at the Parasol line of products. Is that one of the two your interested in?

 

[Dzrt1st]

Looks possibly like a polyurethane composite as shown here -

Webasto Top

 

[soupcook]

Since the MIC is manufactured by the same company who manufactures the Jeep Wrangler hard tops, I imagine the texture and color will be very similar.

 

[dcg2]

Looks possibly like a polyurethane composite as shown here -

Webasto Top

Nice detective work!

 

[Slyder]

I was looking at the Parasol line of products. Is that one of the two your interested in?

I don't have any experience with them or know anyone who has, so they weren't one of the 2 that I've considered and have experience with.

I've used Colorbond and SEM and they both have trim paint for exterior plastics, so one of those would be my go-to, at the moment.

 

[Fly by Nite]

Looks possibly like a polyurethane composite as shown here -

Webasto Top

That page does say it has a polyurethane covered core, but the outer layer may be a different material:
" The exterior surfaces are covered by a grained, thermoformed, weatherproof film"

There are methods to identify plastics. One is a burn test, another is a simple 'does it float' test. Here's a random page with more info:
https://www.twi-global.com/technica...ts-can-i-identify-an-unknown-plastic-material

Even more info:
https://www.boedeker.com/Technical-Resources/Technical-Library/Plastic-Identification

 

[dcg2]

That page does say it has a polyurethane covered core, but the outer layer may be a different material:
" The exterior surfaces are covered by a grained, thermoformed, weatherproof film"

There are methods to identify plastics. One is a burn test, another is a simple 'does it float' test. Here's a random page with more info:
https://www.twi-global.com/technica...ts-can-i-identify-an-unknown-plastic-material

Even more info:
https://www.boedeker.com/Technical-Resources/Technical-Library/Plastic-Identification

Thank you.. I've seen YouTuber AVE do the burn test

 

[Chrism81]

This is everything we know at this point. It is from things posted on the forum by people who work in the factory(s).

Hopefully that "getting darker as we get closer to final production" is true cause those earlier pics were pretty grey

 

[ZackDanger]

Hopefully that "getting darker as we get closer to final production" is true cause those earlier pics were pretty grey

Our Bronco6g scouts have reported they were getting darker, both before it was announced and confirmed it after. I think we’re in a good spot.

I also really do want to point out that still photographs are never going to fully translate what we’ll see in reality.

Here’s a picture of a car in the bright sun. Normally we’d all see those window trim pieces as black, and I’m sure they are, but at this angle, with their texture, in a photograph, they look more Gray than the MIC tops.

::EDIT::

Hell, here’s a picture another member just posted. https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/broncos-at-moab-pics-and-my-test-ride-experience.14576/

Remember how everyone complains the B pillar is black and the MIC should look more like that?

Point is, I think a lot of this is material and textures and it’s clear they have been working on making it appear darker... and in person and in context we are all going to stop noticing these differences pretty quick.

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