Effect of Part Design on Injection-Molding and Plating-on-Plastic Processing

摘要

The automotive and plumbing industries have stringent requirements for the field performance of decorative copper-nickel-chrome coatings on plastic parts. These requirements include adhesion and thermal-cycle performance, as well as the corrosion resistance of these coatings. This paper will review the relationship between the design elements of plastic parts and the injection molding and electroplating processes. The effects which certain design features have on the injection-molding process and the adhesion of the plating layers will be discussed. The paper will also examine how the design of the part influences the electroplating process and the corrosion resistance of the final product. Finally, detailed design guidelines will be presented that will facilitate the optimization of the injection molding and electroplating processes, resulting in superior thermal-cycle and corrosion performance.