WO2008031267A1

WO2008031267A1 - A method for producing plated plastic articles with visually perceivable relief pattern

Info

Publication number: WO2008031267A1
Application number: PCT/CN2006/002322
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tucheng Chan
Original assignee: Tucheng Chan
Priority date: 2006-09-08
Filing date: 2006-09-08
Publication date: 2008-03-20

Abstract

A method for producing plated plastic articles with visually perceivable relief pattern is disclosed, which mainly involves processing the surface of the plastic articles for two or more times by using “incursion-type” steps after electroplating it, thus can make the plated plastic article with a plated metal layer on its surface exhibiting visually perceivable “relief” pattern.

Description

Method for manufacturing stereoscopic visual effects of plastic plating

Technical field

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional visual effect of plastic plating, in particular to a secondary processing method after plating on a surface of a plastic material. Background technique

Generally, plastic materials are widely used in daily necessities due to their low electrical conductivity, light weight, chemical stability, impact resistance, transparency and wear resistance, easy forming and coloring, and low cost. Even engineering plastics can be excellent. Reinforced properties are used in the industry, such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), HDPE (high density polyethylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), LDPE (low density polyethylene), PP (polypropylene) , PS (polystyrene), ABS is a polymer of A (Acryloni t ri le acrylonitrile), B (But adi ene butadiene), S (Styrene styrene), among which are most often Polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP) or polystyrene (PS:), ABS, ABS + PC composite materials are used.

In particular, many electronic products are now available, such as computer cases, mobile phone panels, etc., because plastics have the advantages of the first few, they are also widely used as material options, and because of the internal design and function of the electronic products, the appearance of the electronic products Dazzling and bright eyes are also valued by consumers, so many plastic materials are made of metallic luster, rust, abrasion, electrical conductivity, lubricity, strength, heat resistance, weather resistance, etc. The exterior is coated with electroplating.

It is known that the process of electroplating is basically an electrodation process in which an electrode is used to cause metal to adhere to the surface of the object. However, plastic is generally difficult. Conductive, therefore, it is generally chemically, after the surface of the ABS is roughened, a layer of conductor is attached to make it conductive. For example, as disclosed in the Taiwan Patent Application No. 092100953, "Plastic Surface Plating Process" Patent Publication (Report), it mainly discloses a plastic surface plating process suitable for forming a multiple metal layer on the surface of a plastic component. The electroplating process comprises at least the following steps: (a) spraying a surfactant on the surface of the plastic component; (b) chemically plating a chemical copper layer onto the surface of the plastic component through which the surfactant is sprayed (c) forming a chemical nickel layer on the surface of the chemical copper layer by electroless plating; (d) adjusting the material properties of the surface of the plastic component, The surface of the plastic component is relatively negatively charged; (e) forming an electroplated copper layer on the surface of the electroless nickel layer by electrolytic plating; (f) forming an electroplated nickel layer by electrolytic plating. a surface of the electroplated copper layer; and (g) forming an electroplated chromium layer on the surface of the electroplated nickel layer by electrolytic plating.

However, the foregoing prior art is only disclosed for the electroplating process, and the generally electroplated material is usually not used in the product after having a metallic luster, such as a 3 C product, such as a computer, i†. (Communication) ^ Consumer Electronics (Commerce Electronics) often requires the function of characters, numbers, symbols, colors, etc. to achieve eye-catching, aesthetically pleasing effects.

Therefore, regardless of the prior art or the prior art described above, the plating layer must be replaced by an additional label or printing. However, labels or printing, etc., are basically not "invasive", that is, needles are printed or printed on the surface of plastic materials, so they are easily worn out when consumers often touch and use them. Summary of the invention

The main object of the present invention is to design a three-dimensional visual effect of plastic plating, which is suitable for forming a plurality of rich visually-changing metal layers on the surface of a plastic material component. The surface electroplating process of the plastic material comprises at least the following steps:

(a) coating an interface activator on the surface of the plastic material;

(b) performing chemical reduction deposition on the level of the surfactant to deposit a conductive layer;

(c) plating a metal on the surface of the conductive layer to form a plating layer;

The invention mainly lies in:

(d) A two-dimensional or multiple surface "invasive" process that allows the plated metal layer to create a "stereoscopic" visual effect on the surface of the plastic material component.

The second object of the present invention is to implement the above-mentioned three-dimensional visual effect of plastic plating, wherein the metal of the conductive layer is selected from one of the group consisting of nickel, copper, silver, cobalt, gold and chromium. The conductivity of metalloids provides a conductive interface for plastic plating.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for fabricating a stereoscopic visual effect of plastic plating, wherein the metal of the conductive layer is selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper, silver, cobalt, gold, and chromium. The plating layer is provided with a variety of metal selectivities. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional visual effect of plastic plating, wherein the invasive processing method is an etching or laser engraving or printing to cause fogging, marking, text, and plating of the plating layer. Numbers or symbols, patterns are multi-colored. DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a flow chart of the present invention. detailed description

The content, features, and embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following, so that the reviewer will have a better understanding of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the surface electroplating process of the plastic material of the present invention comprises at least the following steps: (a) coating a surface of a plastic material with a surfactant (Surfactant) as a dispersing (DISPERSING) effect plating layer due to The surfactant has the characteristics of uniform dispersion, so that the quality of the color and the stability of the product are controlled. At the same time, the surface of the electroplated plastic material can be more fully interacted with the metal and the electrolyte.

(b) at the level of the surfactant, chemical reduction deposition, a technique of depositing a conductive layer (film fi lm) by chemical reduction, the metal of the conductive layer may utilize nickel, copper, silver, cobalt, gold or Any of chrome. Since the plastic is not easily conductive, the surface of the plastic is first electrically conductive, and thus the interlocking surface is obtained by mechanical or chemical roughening.

(c) plating a metal on the surface of the conductive layer to form a plating layer; the metal of the plating layer may be any one of nickel, copper, silver, cobalt, gold or chromium.

It is worth mentioning that the so-called "invasive" and "three-dimensional" processing methods, for the purpose of clear identification, refer to the plating layer on the surface of the plastic material, which is used for etching, laser engraving and printing on the body of the plating layer. The plating layer on the surface of the plastic forms a light and shadow difference, and a three-dimensional processing method and its effect are produced by using a shadow difference. And its performance type can produce fog, mark, text, number or mark, pattern multi-color, etc. in the plating layer.

Moreover, the present invention can be further imparted in the recessed groove formed by the etching and 'laser engraving Painting such as color can enhance the effect of eye-catching, beautifying or marking.

The laser engraving of the present invention can select the laser laser power and the laser beam density according to the film thickness of the electroplated layer, and can be precisely controlled by a computer program, and the surface of the electroplated surface can be vaporized by laser engraving or Sublimation, so choose Hai ij (deep) degree, and the material primary color appears.

In summary, the present invention is indeed in line with industrial applicability, and is not found in publications or publicly used before the application, nor is it known to the public, and has non-obvious knowledge, conforms to patentable requirements, and thus patents are legally claimed. Application.

However, the above-mentioned findings are a preferred embodiment of the creative industry. The equal changes made by the patent application scope of this creation are all within the scope of the claim.

Claims

Claim

1. A method for producing a three-dimensional visual effect of plastic plating, comprising at least the following steps: a. coating an interface activator on the surface of the plastic material;

b. performing chemical reduction deposition on the level of the surfactant, and depositing a conductive layer; c. plating the metal on the surface of the conductive layer to form a plating layer;

d. The surface of the plastic material component is formed into a three-dimensional visual effect on the surface of the plastic material component by two or more surface intrusive processing methods.

2. The method of claim 3, wherein the metal of the electroplated layer is selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper, silver, cobalt, gold, and chromium.

3. The method of claim 3, wherein the metal of the conductive layer is selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper, silver, cobalt, gold, and chromium.

4. The method of producing a three-dimensional visual effect of plastic plating according to claim 1, wherein the invasive processing method is an etching.

5. The method of producing a three-dimensional visual effect of plastic plating according to claim 1, wherein the invasive processing method is a laser engraving.

6. The method of manufacturing a three-dimensional visual effect of plastic plating according to claim 1, wherein the invasive three-dimensional processing comprises forming a color, a mark, a letter, a number or a mark, and a pattern in the electroplated layer.