{"id":163959,"date":"2021-10-01T15:37:39","date_gmt":"2021-10-01T07:37:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/?post_type=kb&p=163959"},"modified":"2021-12-01T17:25:29","modified_gmt":"2021-12-01T09:25:29","slug":"what-is-plastic-chrome-plating","status":"publish","type":"kb","link":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/what-is-plastic-chrome-plating","title":{"rendered":"What is Plastic Chrome Plating?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many people make the mistake of thinking that they can only apply a chrome finish to a metal part. However, chrome plating plastic makes it possible to give a plastic part the same sheen as a traditional chrome part.<\/p>\n

Chrome Plastic Plating Process<\/h2>\n

Unfortunately, plastic chrome plating is not as simple as applying a coat of chrome to the part. Typically, we will first coat the part with a layer of copper of nickel through a process called electro-less plating. This means that we do not use an electric current to apply the plating. Applying this coating makes the part conducive, which makes it possible to apply the chrome plating later on.<\/p>\n

Think of this like the base coat that you\u2019d apply to wall before painting it. This base coat prepares the part for the electro plating techniques that we use to apply the chrome plating. Without it, we can\u2019t bind the chrome plating to the plastic part.
\nTypically, the entire process follows the following six steps.<\/p>\n

Step 1 \u2013 Etching<\/h3>\n

We immerse the part into a tank that contains a mixture of concentrated sulfuric and chromic acids. During this process, the acid mixture etches a serious a microscopic holes along the surface of the plastic part. It is these tiny holes that will contain the metal coating applied during the electro-less plating process.<\/p>\n

Step 2 \u2013 Neutralization<\/h3>\n

Upon removing the part from the acid mixture, we immerse it into an alkaline mixture. This neutralizes the acids to ensure they don\u2019t continue eating into the plastic part. This neutralization is also crucial for ensuring no leftover acids disrupt the plating processes later on.<\/p>\n

Step 3 \u2013 Catalyzing and Accelerating<\/h3>\n

We apply a catalytic film to the surface of the plastic part to prepare it for the electro-less plating process. However, before we do that, we must also immerse the part in a final bath that removes any leftover chemicals from the previous processes. This bath also accelerates the film, which means that it will react much more quickly to the metal plating that we apply to the part.<\/p>\n

Step 4 \u2013 Electro-less Plating<\/h3>\n

We use the electro-less plating technique described above to apply a very thin layer of copper or nickel to the part. The purpose of this it to make the part conductive, which allows it to accept the chrome plating.<\/p>\n

Step 5 \u2013 Electro Plating<\/h3>\n

Upon completing the electro-less coating process, we apply a negative charge to the new metal coating. We then immerse the negatively-charged part into a tank that contains positively-charged chrome ions. These ions get attracted to the negatively-charged copper or nickel layer, which causes them to attach themselves to the part. Upon attaching, the ions revert back to their neutral metallic form. This ensures that the chrome plate layer remains even throughout.<\/p>\n

Upon completion of the electro plating process, we remove the part from the chrome and allow it to cool.<\/p>\n

Step 6 \u2013 Quality Inspection<\/h3>\n

We conduct a thorough quality inspection on the part to ensure we\u2019ve carried out the process correctly. This inspection examines the evenness of the chrome coating, as well as ensuring that the process hasn\u2019t led to any discrepancies in the part itself.
\nFor large production runs, we use an error tracking process to ensure any mistakes get corrected before they can affect an entire batch.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

FAQ<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

CAN YOU PLATE ALL THE PLASTIC PARTS?<\/h4>\n

<\/i><\/div>\n

\n

Unfortunately not. The chrome plating process exerts some pressure onto the plastic part, which makes it difficult to carry out on flexible plastics without them breaking. Typically, we only carry out the process on rigid plastics that can endure the process. We will conduct an inspection of your parts before starting the process to ensure that they\u2019re suitable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PLASTIC CHROME COATING?<\/h4>\n

<\/i><\/div>\n

\n

There are several reasons why you may wish to apply a chrome coating to a plastic part. These include the following:<\/p>\n