Benefits of plating on plastics

Plastics have been used in industrial applications due to their lightweight, flexible, strong and low-cost properties, being particularly favoured in the automotive industry. However, the natural state of plastic may not lead to satisfactory results, in specific cases of manufacturing products. As a result, electroplating will allow the deposition of a metallic finish onto the plastic surface. 

The plating on plastics process can provide important benefits to the manufactured products, such as: 

• Electrical conductivity. Since most plastics are non-conductive (ABS, PET, PLA, Nylon blends and 3D printed resins) and direct electroplating on those substrates is not feasible, a series of intermediate steps is required to allow the metal coating deposition, including surface pre-treatment (etching and activation), metallization via electroless plating to deposit an initial thin metal film that will enable the electrodeposition of metals. Through plating on plastics, the metal coating that is deposited onto the plastic surface will enable the surface to conduct electricity. 
• Corrosion protection. The metal coating can increase the resistance to damage from corrosive substances that are used in several manufacturing processes. 
• Wear resistance. The deposition of a metal coating onto the plastic surface can increase the wear resistance of the product. 
• Surface hardness. Considering that the plastic components may be used in heavy-use applications (automotive, aerospace, etc.), it is important the components to be able to withstand the harsh conditions. The metallic coating deposited through the electroplating will act as an extra protective layer that will increase the surface hardness. 

Improve the material’s appearance. The metallic coating is providing a shiny, polished and aesthetically pleasing final surface that is of high importance to applications such as the automotive industry. The enhanced appearance of plastic parts is making the vehicles more appealing to consumers.