Textured decorative plating on plastic components

Abstract

A relatively inexpensive process for making plastic components having textured chrome finishes that may have fine, crisp, clean lines and intricate details includes steps of electroplating a layer of etchable metal on a surface of a plastic article, typically preserving the surface of the etchable metal, etching a desired relief pattern on the layer of etchable metal, typically cleaning and activating the surface of the relief patterned etched metal layer, and electroplating a layer of decorative metal on the relief patterned etched metal layer.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to decorative finishes and more particularly to a process for creating a plated plastic article having a decorative relief pattern. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Decorative chrome finishes on plastic components have long been popular in automotive, appliances, teletronics, and household applications. While chrome plated plastic articles having decorative relief patterns are known and desired, it is expected that the demand for more delicately textured or patterned chrome finishes will increase in the near future. A textured chrome finish on a plastic component can be achieved by applying a chrome plating over a pre-textured molded plastic component. However, this practice is not economically acceptable in the initial marketing phase of potential products, and is unacceptable for certain low volume or specialty products, because pre-textured molds are relatively expensive. Further, it is extremely difficult to consistently pro...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The invention provides an economically acceptable process for making plastic components having delicately textured or patterned finishes, and provides a flexible technology for producing decorative patterns having fine, crisp, clean lines and intricate details on a variety of plastic parts having a metal layer. The process includes steps of electroplating a layer of etchable metal on a surface of a plastic article; typically preventing the etchable metal surface from tarnishing; etching a desired relief pattern on the layer of etchable metal; typically cleaning and activating the surface of the relief patterned etched metal layer; and depositing a finish layer on the relief patterned etched metal layer.

Problems solved by technology

However, this practice is not economically acceptable in the initial marketing phase of potential products, and is unacceptable for certain low volume or specialty products, because pre-textured molds are relatively expensive.

Further, it is extremely difficult to consistently produce delicate and / or intricate textured patterns in a plastic molding process.

In addition, because of the thicknesses of the multiple layers required for chrome plating a plastic substrate, much of the original detail in the molded relief pattern may be lost during the plating process.