How Is Glitter Made?

The process of making glitter involves several steps.

Step 1: Creating the Base Material The base material for most glitter is a type of plastic called PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The PET is melted and extruded into thin sheets that are then cooled and cut into small flakes.

Step 2: Applying the Coating The PET flakes are then coated with a thin layer of metallic or iridescent material. This can be done using a vacuum deposition process, which involves evaporating the coating material in a vacuum chamber and allowing it to condense onto the PET flakes.

Step 3: Cutting the Glitter Once the coating has been applied, the PET flakes are cut into small pieces of various shapes and sizes, depending on the desired effect. This can be done using a machine that cuts the flakes into the desired shapes or by stamping them out with a die.

Step 4: Quality Control After the glitter has been cut, it undergoes quality control checks to ensure that the size, shape, and color are consistent. This involves visual inspection and sometimes testing the glitter under different lighting conditions.

Step 5: Packaging and Distribution The glitter is then packaged and distributed to retailers or end-users. It can be sold in jars, tubes, or bags, and is typically labeled with the size and type of glitter, as well as any relevant safety information.

In summary, the process of making glitter involves creating a base material of PET flakes, coating them with a thin layer of metallic or iridescent material, cutting the flakes into small pieces of various shapes and sizes, performing quality control checks, and packaging and distributing the finished product.