KR102429025B1 - Symbol button of automobile and method of preparing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A symbol button for a vehicle and a method for manufacturing the same, comprising: a button body; and a button surface portion positioned on the button body, a symbol printing portion positioned on the button surface portion; And it provides a symbol button for a vehicle including a metal plating layer located on the remaining button surface portion except for the symbol printing portion.

Description

SYMBOL BUTTON OF AUTOMOBILE AND METHOD OF PREPARING THE SAME

It relates to a symbol button for a vehicle and a manufacturing method thereof.

Various switch buttons are being applied to automobile interior parts. Buttons have a functional role used for operation/manipulation of automobile parts such as audio/air conditioning/windows, and an aesthetic role such as a tactile sense of touch and visual confirmation to operate a product.

Metal aluminum, metallic painting, matte painting, ion plating, in-mold film for decoration, etc. are used for existing automobile switch buttons.

Ion plating and metallic paint are used to give the switch buttons a metallic texture, but there is a negative problem in terms of productability because the feeling when viewed with the naked eye and when touched is different.

Accordingly, a technique for plating a metal on the surface of a button made of a polymer material has been proposed.

The technologies currently in use can be broadly classified into two categories.

The first technique is a multi-injection partial plating method. 1 is a schematic diagram of a multi-injection partial plating method.

For partial plating, different materials are injected into the plated area and the non-plated area for bonding. First, a polycarbonate material is injected to realize the symbol (character or pattern) shape to be implemented for realization of the unplated area, and ABS or PC+ABS material capable of metal plating is injected on the surface.

At this time, the molten ABS or PC+ABS is bonded to the PC material. After that, if wet chrome plating (chemical plating + electroplating) is performed, a plating layer is formed only on the surface of ABS or PC + ABS, and the PC material becomes unplated.

This method has a disadvantage in that a new mold is required every time a symbol is changed, so there is a high mold investment cost, and there is a disadvantage in that a plating defect occurs when an injection defect occurs due to a lack of flowability during injection molding.

The second method is the laser cutting part plating method. 2 is a schematic diagram of a laser cutting part plating method.

As is the case with the above-mentioned plastic plating, plastic plating consists of a continuous process of imparting conductivity to a non-conductive injection material using chemical plating and forming a metal layer using electroplating.

Laser cutting partial plating is a method of implementing a symbol/pattern on the surface of a product by partially removing the chemical plating layer using laser cutting after chemical plating, and then performing electroplating.

The disadvantage of the above process is that the product has to be taken out from the plating jig (Rack) after chemical plating during the continuous process and subjected to laser cutting, and there is a disadvantage in the process of performing electroplating by mounting it on a plating jig (Rack) again.

Accordingly, there is a need for a metal plating method that can save a more effective plastic symbol.

The present invention improves marketability by applying a wet chrome plating surface treatment to buttons of parts that are frequently touched by the driver's hand to give a metal cool touch feeling.

In addition, characters/symbols for imparting daytime visibility to the surface of the switch button may be implemented, and a characteristic that light is transmitted to the characters/symbols for nighttime visibility may be provided.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the button body portion; and a button surface portion positioned on the button body, a symbol printing portion positioned on the button surface portion; And it provides a symbol button for a vehicle including a metal plating layer located on the remaining button surface portion except for the symbol printing portion.

the button body; And the button surface portion may be a different polymer material, the button body portion may be a polymer material that is not plated with metal, and the button surface portion may be a polymer material capable of metal plating.

The symbol printing unit may be a material through which light is transmitted.

The symbol printing unit; may be a polymer material that is not plated with metal.

The button body portion and the button surface portion may be formed by double injection.

The symbol printing unit; is prepared using a polymer composition comprising a PVC resin, a solvent, and an antistatic agent, with respect to 100% by weight of the polymer composition, a solvent, 3 to 7% by weight may be included.

In another embodiment of the present invention, manufacturing a button through a double injection method using a polymer material capable of metal plating and a polymer material that is not plated with metal; printing a symbol using a polymer material that is not plated with metal on the surface of the button; and forming a metal plating layer on the surface of the button, including, manufacturing a button through a double injection method using a polymer material capable of metal plating and a polymer material not plated with metal; in, the button It provides a method for manufacturing a symbol button for automobiles, the body portion of which is a polymer material that is not plated with metal, and the surface portion of the button is a polymer material that can be plated with metal.

In the step of printing a symbol using a polymer material that is not plated with a metal on the surface of the button; In, the polymer material on which the metal is not plated is manufactured using a polymer composition including a PVC resin, a solvent, and an antistatic agent And, with respect to 100% by weight of the polymer composition, a solvent, 3 to 7% by weight may be included.

Compared to the existing double-injection partial plating, there is an advantage that additional mold production is unnecessary when changing characters/symbols or when various characters/symbols are applied to the same location, and the process of partial plating using laser cutting after chemical plating is simple.

1 is a schematic diagram of a multi-injection partial plating method.
2 is a schematic diagram of a laser cutting part plating method.
3 is a flowchart of a method of manufacturing a button according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4 shows a criterion for judging a print defect.
5 : shows the judgment criteria of chemical-resistance.
6 is a photograph of a button manufactured according to the embodiment.
7 is an actual photograph of a button according to an embodiment of the present invention and the existing ion plating method.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. However, this is provided as an example, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims to be described later.

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a process of not forming a plating layer on a character/symbol by performing wet chrome plating after printing ink in which a plating layer is not formed on the product surface for partial plating on existing switch buttons.

In this case, the ink in which the plating layer is not formed should be able to transmit light for the purpose of realizing lighting, and it should have characteristics that it is not eroded or peeled off by plating chemicals during the plating process.

3 is a schematic diagram of a manufacturing process of a button according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the button is implemented by a double injection method using a polymer material that can be plated with metal and a material that is not plated with metal.

In this case, the body of the button may be made of a material that is not plated with metal, and the surface of the button may be made of a material that can be plated with metal.

Then, a printing layer for preventing plating for not forming a plating layer is formed on the injection material. In addition, when wet chrome plating of the printed injection part is performed, the plating layer is formed only on the unprinted area of the transparent or translucent injection material, and the plating layer is not formed on the printed part and the opaque material area.

At this time, the characters/symbols are implemented in the printing part where the plating layer is not formed, so that the driver can distinguish the characters/symbols with the naked eye. In addition, by implementing lighting through the printing unit at night, characters/symbols can be distinguished at night.

More specifically, as a material capable of metal plating, ABS, PC+ABS, PC, etc. having plating properties and light transmittance may be applied.

(ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, hereinafter ABS)

Materials such as PC (polycarbonate, polycarbonate, hereinafter PC) and TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane, hereinafter TPU) are applicable as the material used for the body of the button that is not plated with metal. However, when a transparent material for plating is used as a PC, the body material may be limited to TPU.

Thereafter, printing for preventing plating for forming a symbol printing unit may be performed.

For printing to prevent plating, an ink based on PVC resin can be used, and pad printing, screen printing, laser printing, etc. are possible.

The ink may use a PVC resin having a molecular weight of 15,000 to 25,000 Mw. PVC has excellent chemical resistance to sulfuric acid/chromic acid/hydrochloric acid during the plating process, and has a characteristic that metal is not plated.

After printing, the ink may be cured by drying at a temperature of 60 to 80° C. for 0.5 hr to 2.0 hr.

Thereafter, wet chromium plating may be performed.

Wet chromium plating is largely divided into etching/chemical plating/electroplating.

Etching (pre-treatment) uses chromic acid/sulfuric acid on the ABS/PC+ABS surface to dissolve butadiene components and form anchor holes to realize plating adhesion.

Chemical plating is a process for imparting conductivity to the surface of non-conductive plastic injection materials, and forms a thin chemical nickel plating layer (1 μm).

Electroplating implements copper/nickel/chromium sequentially by applying electricity to the product surface.

In the case of the button body, since the metal is not plated, the chemical nickel plating layer is not formed, so that the plating layer is not formed during electroplating.

Hereinafter, preferred examples and comparative examples of the present invention will be described. However, the following examples are only preferred examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

Example

Selection of injection material for plating

The requirements for the transparent injection material for plating are that the plating adhesion and lighting can be realized.

ABS, PC+ABS, PC materials, etc. are possible. The thickness of the product is 1.0-1.5 mm.

If the thickness of the material is less than 1.0mm, the moldability during injection is poor due to the lack of flowability of the material. If the thickness of the material is 2.0mm or more, the light transmittance is 5 or less and the HAZE is 95 or more, and the light transmittance is lowered, making it difficult to apply to lighting parts.

In addition, the plating light shielding material has the purpose of preventing light leakage from the side and maintaining the gap between the PCB circuit and the plating layer to prevent damage to the circuit due to energization during electrostatic discharge.

In addition, a PC or TPU material in which a plating layer is not formed during a general wet chrome plating process is preferable.

If, when selecting the button surface material as PC, it is preferable to select the button body portion TPU.

Selection of ink resin

In order to realize printing in which a plating layer is not formed on the character/symbol part, PVC, PMMA, and PU resins applicable to plastic materials were evaluated.

The PMMA and PU resins were dissolved by chemicals such as sulfuric acid/hydrochloric acid/chromic acid during the plating process to remove the printed layer, or even if the printed layer remained, a plating layer was formed on the surface. In the case of PVC resin, because of its strong chemical resistance, the printed layer was not removed even after the chrome plating process, and the plating layer was not formed.

The PVC resin did not form a plating layer after wet chromium plating regardless of molecular weight.

It is preferable to use a molecular weight of 20,000 to 30,000Mw for the PVC resin.

When the molecular weight of the PVC resin is less than 20,000Mw, printability is deteriorated due to printing bleeding, and it is difficult to secure the print thickness after printing.

If the molecular weight of the PVC resin is more than 30,000Mw, the surface of the ink becomes rough after printing due to deterioration of the slip property of the resin, and the sharpness of the image decreases due to printing smearing, making it difficult to repeat work There is a disadvantage that it does not.

In the case of printing, it is possible to implement character symbols by methods such as pad printing, screen printing, and laser printing.

An organic solvent is used to secure the printability of PVC resin. The organic solvent plays the role of viscosity control and resin dispersion.

The solvent used at this time is Acetonitrile, ISOPHORONE, XYLENE.

The content of the solvent is preferably about 3 to 7% by weight relative to the resin.

When the content of the solvent is less than 3% by weight, the viscosity of the ink solution is as high as 5,000cp, and the dispersibility is lowered. In addition, when the viscosity is high, the ink is not transferred to the injection product during pad printing, but remains on the pad (silicone rubber), and the printability is deteriorated.

When the content of the solvent is more than 7% by weight, the viscosity of the ink solution is as low as 2000 cp or less, so that the bleeding of printing becomes severe, and it becomes difficult to secure a coating film thickness after printing and drying.

The curing agent is used for the purpose of increasing durability properties such as chemical resistance, heat resistance, and adhesion through curing with PVC resin, and an isocyanate-based curing agent is used. It is preferable to use HDI, MDI, TDI, IPDI, etc., It is preferable to apply an amount of 20 parts by weight.

If the curing agent content is less than 10 parts by weight, chemical resistance is reduced due to insufficient curing of the coating film, and when the curing agent content is added in excess of 20 parts by weight, durability properties are improved, but printability is reduced and the pot life of the ink is short due to exposure to air lose In addition, due to overcuring with the resin, a coating film crack or the like occurs after light resistance evaluation.

#One #2 #3 #3 #4 #5 type of resin PVC-1
(molecular weight 10,000) PVC
(molecular weight 20,000) PVC
(molecular weight 30,000) PVC
(Molecular weight 40,000~) PMMA
(Molecular weight 10,000 or less) PU
(Acrylic Urethane) printability △ ◎ ◎ △ ◎ ◎ unplated performance ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ X X light transmittance ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎

#6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13 type of resin PVC
(molecular weight 20,000) PVC
(molecular weight 20,000) PVC
(molecular weight 20,000) PVC
(molecular weight 20,000) PVC
(molecular weight 20,000) PVC
(molecular weight 20,000) PVC
(molecular weight 20,000) PVC
(molecular weight 20,000) Suzy 30 50 70 90 90 90 90 90 solvent 70 47 30 7 7 7 3 10 antistatic agent 3 3 3 3 7 total 100% by weight 100% by weight 100% by weight 100% by weight 100% by weight 100% by weight 100% by weight 100% by weight hardener 10 parts by weight 20 parts by weight 10 parts by weight 30 parts by weight 20 parts by weight 20 parts by weight poor printing ○
(print smearing) ◎ ○
(print smearing) ◎ ◎ O
(unprinted, short pot life) ◎
(unprinted, increased viscosity) ○
(print smearing) Chemical resistance (ethanol/gasoline) X ○ X ◎ ○ ◎ ◎ ◎

Fig. 4 shows a criterion for judging a print defect. 5 : shows the judgment criteria of chemical-resistance.

6 is a photograph of a button manufactured according to the embodiment. 7 is an actual photograph of a button according to an embodiment of the present invention and the existing ion plating method.

The present invention is a method applied to existing buttons, and it is possible to provide a metallic appearance and a cool touch feeling to consumers by implementing the letters/symbols on the buttons by a partial plating method.

The present invention forms a printing layer capable of preventing plating and transmitting light by using a pad or screen printing method on the surface of a material for plating that can transmit light, and performs wet chrome plating, so that the remaining area except for the printed layer of characters/symbols It forms a metal layer only in the text/symbol area and transmits light only in the text/symbol area, thereby providing additional text/symbol images during the day and lighting images at night.

This technology has a simple structure compared to the existing process, and has the advantage of being able to change characters/symbols by changing only the printing pattern without additional mold production when changing characters/symbols. can be changed to single injection.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can be manufactured in a variety of different forms, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can take other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. It will be understood that it can be implemented as Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive.

Claims (8)

button body; and a button surface portion positioned above the button body.
a symbol printing unit positioned on the button surface; and
and a metal plating layer located on the remaining button surface part except for the symbol printing part,
the button body; And the button surface part is a different polymer material,
The button body is a polymer material that is not plated with metal,
The button surface part is a polymer material capable of metal plating,
The button body part is a material for light shielding, and the button surface part is a material that can transmit light.
delete According to claim 1,
The symbol printing unit; is a symbol button for a vehicle that is a material through which light.
According to claim 1,
The symbol printing unit; is a symbol button for a vehicle that is a polymer material that is not plated with metal.
According to claim 1,
The button body portion and the button surface portion is a symbol button for automobiles formed by double injection.
According to claim 1,
The symbol printing unit; is manufactured using a polymer composition comprising a PVC resin, a solvent, and an antistatic agent,
With respect to 100% by weight of the polymer composition, a solvent, a symbol button for automobiles comprising 3 to 7% by weight.
manufacturing a button through a double injection method using a polymer material capable of metal plating and a polymer material that is not plated with metal;
printing a symbol using a polymer material that is not plated with metal on the surface of the button; and
forming a metal plating layer on the surface of the button;
including,
Manufacturing a button through a double injection method using a polymer material capable of metal plating and a polymer material that is not plated with metal; in,
The body of the button is a polymer material that is not plated with metal, and the surface of the button is a polymer material that can be plated with metal,
The button surface part is a polymer material capable of metal plating,
The button body portion is a material for light shielding, and the button surface portion is a material that can transmit light.
8. The method of claim 7,
Printing a symbol using a polymer material that is not plated with metal on the surface of the button;
The polymer material on which the metal is not plated is manufactured using a polymer composition comprising a PVC resin, a solvent, and an antistatic agent,
With respect to 100% by weight of the polymer composition, a solvent, a method of manufacturing a symbol button for automobiles comprising 3 to 7% by weight.

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