Standard Practice for Preparation of Plastics Materials for Electroplating

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
A variety of metals can be electrodeposited on plastics for decorative or engineering purposes. The most widely used coating consists of three layers—copper plus nickel plus chromium—for decorative applications. However, brass, silver, tin, lead, cadmium, zinc, gold, other metals, and combinations of these are used for special purposes. The key to producing electroplated plastics of high quality lies in the care taken in preparing plastics for electroplating. The information contained in this practice is useful in controlling processes for the preparation of plastics for electroplating.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice is a guide to the surface preparation of plastic materials for decorative and functional electroplating, where the sequence of chemical treatments may include: cleaning, conditioning, etching, neutralizing, catalyzing, accelerating, and autocatalytic metal deposition. Surface preparation also includes electrodeposition of metallic strike coatings immediately after autocatalytic metal deposition. These treatments result in the deposition of thin conductive metal films on the surface of molded-plastic materials, and are described in this practice.
1.2 Once molded-plastics materials have been made conductive, they may be electroplated with a metal or combination of metals in conventional electroplating solutions. The electroplating solutions and their use are beyond the scope of this practice.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. (See Section 4.)

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Publication Date
31-Mar-2004
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation:B727–04
Standard Practice for
1
Preparation of Plastics Materials for Electroplating
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B727; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope of Copper Plus Nickel Plus Chromium on Plastics
1.1 This practice is a guide to the surface preparation of
3. Significance and Use
plastic materials for decorative and functional electroplating,
3.1 A variety of metals can be electrodeposited on plastics
where the sequence of chemical treatments may include:
for decorative or engineering purposes. The most widely used
cleaning, conditioning, etching, neutralizing, catalyzing, accel-
coating consists of three layers—copper plus nickel plus
erating,andautocatalyticmetaldeposition.Surfacepreparation
chromium—for decorative applications. However, brass, sil-
also includes electrodeposition of metallic strike coatings
ver, tin, lead, cadmium, zinc, gold, other metals, and combi-
immediately after autocatalytic metal deposition. These treat-
nations of these are used for special purposes. The key to
ments result in the deposition of thin conductive metal films on
producing electroplated plastics of high quality lies in the care
the surface of molded-plastic materials, and are described in
taken in preparing plastics for electroplating. The information
this practice.
contained in this practice is useful in controlling processes for
1.2 Once molded-plastics materials have been made con-
the preparation of plastics for electroplating.
ductive, they may be electroplated with a metal or combination
of metals in conventional electroplating solutions. The electro-
4. Hazards
plating solutions and their use are beyond the scope of this
4.1 Somechemicalsolutionsareexothermicuponmixingor
practice.
in use, thereby requiring cooling and proper containment to
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
prevent injury to personnel.
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
4.2 For details on the proper operation and safety precau-
only.
4
tionstobefollowedbyvapordegreasing,seeASTMSTP310.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
5. General Considerations
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5.1 Nature of Plastics Suitable for Electroplating:
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
5.1.1 Plastics suitable for electroplating may be a combina-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. (See Section 4.)
tion of one or more polymers so formulated as to allow
selective etching of one or more constituents. The most
2. Referenced Documents
2 commonly electroplated material, acrylonitrile-butadiene-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
styrene (ABS), is a terpolymer. During etching, soft butadiene
B532 Specification for Appearance of Electroplated Plastic
rubber particles dispersed in the acrylonitrile-styrene matrix
Surfaces
are selectively attacked. The microscopic pockets formed by
B533 Test Method for Peel Strength of Metal Electroplated
the etching process provide sites for the physical interlocking
Plastics
of the plastic substrate and subsequently applied metallic
B553 Test Method for Thermal Cycling of Electroplated
3 coatings. The resultant mechanical bonding is instrumental in
Plastics
achieving metal to plastic adhesion.
B604 Specification for Decorative Electroplated Coatings
5.2 Plastics Suitable for Electroplating:
5.2.1 The plastics materials commonly used for injection
1
molded articles to be electroplated are:
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B08 on Metallic
and Inorganic Coatings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B08.02 on 5.2.1.1 Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS),
Pre Treatment.
5.2.1.2 Polypropylene,
Current edition approved April 1, 2004. Published April 2004. Originally
5.2.1.3 Polysulfone,
approved in 1983. Discontinued January 2004 and reinstated in 2004 as B727–04.
5.2.1.4 Modified Polyphenylene Oxide,
DOI: 10.1520/B0727-04.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
5.2.1.5 Polycarbonate,
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
3 4
Withdrawn. Handbook of Vapor Degreasing, ASTM STP 310A, ASTM, 1976.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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B727–04
5.2.1.6 Polyester, a
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