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Basic Knowledge of Surface Treatment

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  • Basic Knowledge of Surface Treatment
  • Plating preprocessing
  • Plating
  • Conversion Treatment
  • Conversion Treatment
  • Conversion Treatment
  • Conversion Treatment
  • Resin Plating
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Resin Plating

How to Plate Plastics

Electroplating plastics that are not electrically conductive.

Resin plating process1: Pre-treatment process

This shows how non-conductive plastic surfaces are made conductive.

Acid rince→Etching→Rinse→Catalyst→Rinse→Accelerater→Electroless Nickel

*Etching
This adds a hydrophilic property.
It dissolves butadiene rubber to create fine resin surface roughness, and attaches resin and metal using an anchor effect.

*Catalyst
This adds palladium catalyst to the plastic surface.

*Electroless Nickel
This deposits a nickel layer on the plastic surface using palladium catalyst as a nucleus.

Resin plating process:2 Electro-plating process

Here is how we deposit decorative metallic film on a plastic surface.

Nickel strike→Copper plating→Acid rinse→Semi-bright nickel plating→Bright nickel plating→Joule nickel plating→Acid rinse→Chrome plating

*Copper Plating
This provides strong leveling and reduces roughness on the material surface.
Excellent ductility relaxes thermal expansion stress between resin and metal.

*Three Layers of Nickel Plating
Three layers of nickel plating slow down the corrosion progression.

*Chrome Plating
The hard chrome film provides excellent corrosion protection and good scratch resistance, resulting in a beautiful blue color.

POP has about 30 process steps including pretreatment and electroplating, and it takes 3 to 5 hours to finish. Each step can potentially cause defects. However, Yuken is equipped with leading-edge analysis equipment to handle issues and maintain high quality.

Details on our analysis equipment

Precautions for POP Materials

The plated film is harder than plastic, but easier to crack. Therefore, care must be taken in designing the materials.

*Electric current concentrates on the material edges, potentially causing burns.
*It is difficult to plate the recessed areas (thinner deposit).
*Cracks may occur due to concentrated heat expansion stress.

Point to be careful on Products

Point to be careful on 凸corner & 凹corner

Maintain at least R0.2 on the material edges.