Electroless plating, also known as chemical or autocatalytic plating, is a plating method that involves several simultaneous reactions in an aqueous solution, which occur. Techmetals offers electroless nickel plating is to the specs of ams 2404, ams 2405, astm b 733, milc26074, mildtl32119 and ams c 26074. Lds makes it possible to substitute traditional circuit boards in mechatronics assemblies. Electroless plating of plastics journal of chemical. The electroless metal plating process over abs plastic by using. Electroless nickel plating electroplating ams 2404. Study of the catalytic activity in electroless metal plating of polymers. Ji li, yang wang, gengzhao xiang, handa liu, jiangling he. Pdf development of electroplating setup for plating abs plastics. Hardness varies from 500600hvas plated to 850950hv after heat treatment depending on phosphorous content. Electroless plating is an alternative form of plating that relies on an autocatalytic chemical reaction instead of electricity to apply the coating. Advantages of electroless plating over electroplating. Nickel plating on plastic is also a widely implemented metal finishing industry practice.
A printable pdf version of this paper is available by clicking here. In electroless nickel plating, a nickel coating is deposited on a surface using a controlled chemical process, or reduction, which is not based on an applied current. Electroless plating is the process of applying one or more layers of a metal to a substrate without the use of an external electrical charge. Electroless silver deposition on abs plastic using coii. Troubleshooting electroless nickel plating solutions. The electroless copper deposition process developed in this study may open up a new route of plating on plastics pop for printed circuit boards, electromagnetic interference shielding, and many. The electroless copper and nickel plating on abs plastic material experiments. Chrome including milc26074, astm b733, ams 2404, nicom and tricom coatings.
The electroless nickel plating process is simpler than its counterpart electroplating. Many concepts, from the threedimensional structure of abs plastics, to the use of pourbaix diagrams to explain electroless nickel plating, are. A discussion started in 2003 but continuing through 2018. It is also sometimes called autocatalytic because the metal being. Electroless metallic coating on plastic parts produced by rapid. One is to roughen the surface to allow metal to adhere. The present invention relates to a chrome free etch for plating on plastic processes, wherein plastic surfaces are contacted in a first etching step with an etching solution at least comprising mnivions. An organic plastic substrate is metal plated by the following essential steps 1 sulfonation with so3 in a chlorinated hydrocarbon solvent, 2 neutralization of the sulfonated plastic in a dilute alkaline. Pretreatment of plastic materials for metal plating download pdf. Plating on plastics and metal finishing technologies linking innovation to performance plating on plastics and metal finishing technologies delivers integrated materials and surface finishing processes for use in. Allover electroless plating with copper, nickel or nickel plating over copper are highly cost effective systems to address a wide range of engineering requirements for plastic components. Because the electrolytic plating process requires that a. Us4039714a pretreatment of plastic materials for metal plating.
Then electroplate over that layer to build up layers of. Plastics are nonconductive, which means they do not conduct electrical current. This crucial step is necessary to give best possible adhesion of metal to plastic. Comparison between electroplating and electroless on plastic surface 2 ijcpe vol. The three largest applications for electroless deposition are electroless nickel on metals, electrolesscopper on printed circuit. They do not require rectifiers, but they do require heating to approx 195 deg f. Pdf abs is an engineering plastic that has butadiene part uniformly distributed over the acrylonitrilestyrene matrix. Electroless plating, nonelectrical plating of metals and plastics to achieve uniform coatings by a process of controlled autocatalytic selfcontinuing reduction. This paper deals with polymer metallization by the electroless process. One of our customers is specifying as finish for a spring steel wire hose clamp electroless zinc. Electroless plating of nickel and copper is also done on. Chromiumfree etching and palladiumfree plating of plastics.
However, there are times when there is a need for a plastic to conduct electricity, electroless plating of plastics, such as. Electroless plating of silver plating process and the reaction mechanism plated film practice of electroless silver plating. Chapter 3 troubleshooting electroless nickel plating solutions. Effect of variables on the process electroless nickel plating with hypophosphite miscellaneous ions alkaline hypophosphite plating solutions plating with sodium borohydride plating with amine boranes influence of variables on plating rate kinetics of electroless nickel deposition. Electroless plating on plastic can further be broken down into two different categories. Chapter the fundamental aspects of electroless nickel plating. Electroplating plastic plating electroless plating. Electroplating, electroless plating, copper, nickel, plastics, abs. Multiple plating techniques exist, including electroplating which uses electricity in its process and. Electroless plating kits caswell electroless kits are available for nickel, cobalt, tin, boron nitride nickel and teflon nickel. Copper is the obvious choice when there is a need to enhance the electrical conductivity of the substrate. Plating enhances and protects a component, making it tougher and less prone to corrosion over time.
Plating on plastics pop market size exceeded usd 540 million, globally in 2019 and is estimated to grow at over 8. These parts are further metalize by using electroless copper deposition technique. Sinotech is dedicated to managing your project onsite and delivering parts to you at lower prices but the same quality, service and terms as a domestic supplier. The term decorative plating is used to describe practices, processes and outcomes for a broad range of applications, but the term decorative often masks the critical. Electroless plating is a method of plating metal by chemical rather than electrical means, in which the piece to be plated is immersed in a reducing agent that, when catalyzed by certain. Electroless plating an overview sciencedirect topics. Electro nickel plating also known as nickel electrodeposition, is becoming an increasingly popular process for a variety of different manufacturing applications. Comparison between electroplating and electroless on. Plating on plastics and metal finishing technologies.
Plating of plastics can be done with gold, silver, aluminum. Since electroless nickel plating relies on a chemical reduction reaction, control of the process is critical in obtaining optimum results. Selvam an unconventional way of plating ag by electroless means is by using the oxidation process of coii to coiii in an. The first bright metallic deposits of nickelphosphorus alloys were obtained in 191 1 by breteau. With the former, the metal is deposited over the entire surface of the plastic substrate at a thickness ranging from 40 microinches 1 m to 2,000 microinches or 0. She works in the area of electroless and electrolytic deposition on metals and nonconductors, and assists in troubleshooting of plating baths.
Usual temperature limitation of degrees f 540 degrees c. Electroless deposition of a metal layer can be done through a chemical exchange, chemical reduction. Electroless silver deposition on abs plastic using coii as reducing agent m. Introduction electroplating is an electrode deposition process for the use of. Electroless metallization scheme showing the overall principles of the process is shown in fig.
Plating on plastics plastic electroplating process spc. Electroless nickel plating milc26047, astm b733, ams. Allover electroless plating with copper, nickel or nickel plating over copper are highly cost effective systems to address a wide range of engineering requirements for. Us20200063264a1 chromiumfree platingonplastic etch. Electroless plating updated thursday 8th march 2018 metal ions within a chemical solution, using an autocatalytic reaction, deposit a uniform layer onto the surface of prepared cleaned and etched. Plastic dropin liners are convenient to use, provided all sizing. The deposition rate and deposit properties of electroless copper plating depend on the copper complexing agent, reducing agent, bath temperature and ph. Unlike electroplating, electroless plating does not require. Electroless nickel plating is a form of alloy treatment designed to increase resistance and hardness in a metal or plastic. Describes the electroless plating process electroless plating of nickel over copper, mechanism and reactions. This video presents the different successive chemical and electrolytical steps necessary for the metallization of plastics.
Gold or silver plating plastic can also be used to add aesthetic appeal to a plastic product. In this study, the electroless copper plating technique was applied on acrylonitrile butadiene styrene abs plastic. Electroless cu plating on abs plastic by using environmentally. Two distinct processes have been considered for surface preparation of parts. Hard chrome alternatives and electroless plating for engineered coatings from u. Electroless nickel plating arlington plating company. Electroless nickel, nickelcobalt alloys, nickelptfe, nickelboron, and other nickelbased composites are examples of electroless plating materials.
Electroplating is the process in which dissolved ions of one metal are deposited onto the surface of another metal. Plating on plastics market size and share industry. Electroless plating because of economy and ease of. Plating on plastics can be achieved with various metals. However, the involvement of a regular electroless plating. I would like to understand the theory of electroless nickel plating. Plastic plating is commonly used in many industries for purposes such as corrosion and wear protection, increasing surface hardness and more. Arlington platings apc100 electroless nickel plating technology can be used on a wide range of applications, including in automotive and industrial industries. Electroless plating, also known as chemical or autocatalytic plating, is a nongalvanic plating method that involves several simultaneous reactions in an aqueous solution, which occur without the use of. Previous studies in the authors laboratory have shown the interest of plasma surface treatments of polymers before. Cybershield has large scale, automated electroless plating line to provide customers with the lowest cost solution. Electroless plating is a chemical method that deposits a protective coating of nickelboron or nickelphosphorous alloy onto an objects surface. The fundamental aspects of electroless nickel plating 3 in 1844, wurtz 2 observed that nickel cations were reduced by hypo phosphite anions. Since electroless plating is an autocatalytic process, it is vital to remove all foreign particulates so that plate out will be virtually eliminated.