ECOAT

“Chromium-free chrome plating” process for metallising plastics.

Description

Optimise the chemical solution, which activates and functionalises the polymer surface and creates a bridge between the chemical groups exposed on the surface and the metal surface of the silver layer, optimise the Ag formulation and test some industrial formulations (where however the glass activator is not suitable for use on plastics, so some of the industrial components cannot be used), optimise the entire deposition process in all its steps, from activating the surface to protecting the metal layer. The protection cannot be identical to the scheme used for concentrating glass mirrors, where in some configurations the mirror is on the outer side of the glass, as the process temperatures are lower for many of the polymer substrates than for glass.

Result to be enhanced

The solutions proposed in the project are highly innovative, as there is currently no industrial solution to the problem of water-based metallisation on plastics. The process features a much simpler framework compared to the galvanic process. It utilises POSS (organically modified silsesquioxanes, which are organic-inorganic hybrid materials with unique properties different from conventional silanes) as one of the components in the formulation. The chemical composition is a hybrid, intermediate (RSiO1.5) between silica (SiO2) and silicone (R2SiO). Moreover, the alternative method proposed in the project is based on replacing chromium with silver, which is known for its non-toxic properties and even disinfectant and health-promoting effects.

Why is it important?

In a market that is highly competitive on aesthetic standards, the process adds value to coated plastic products. However, the truly distinctive aspect is not immediately perceptible to the end users, but to those who apply the silver plating: it is in fact a process that, thanks to the absence of chromium, guarantees environmental and health safety and prevents workers from being exposed to chromium, which on the contrary is harmful to the human organism