Method for producing metal coatings on plastics material parts

Abstract

A method for producing a metal coating on a plastics material part includes connecting each of a plurality of plastics material parts to a flexible support via a respective connecting part so as to temporarily chain the plurality of plastics material parts together. Each connecting part is attached to a respective one of the plurality of plastics material parts on at least one side. An electrically conductive connection is provided between the flexible support and each of the plurality of plastics material parts via the respective connecting part so as to provide a current supply for producing a galvanic metal coating layer on a conductive layer of each of the plurality of plastics material parts.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS[0001]Priority is claimed to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2011 050 131.2, filed on May 5, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.FIELD[0002]The invention relates to a method for producing metal coatings on in particular three-dimensional plastics material parts, in which a conductive layer is selectively produced and, building on said conductive layer, a galvanic reinforcement is produced.BACKGROUND[0003]For MID components, electrical and mechanical functions are integrated into a metal-coated injection-moulded part made of a thermoplastic material. In this context, the three-dimensional structures may carry current and also provide shielding or form transmitting surfaces.[0004]In laser direct structuring (LDS), a circuit pattern is applied to the surface of a single-component injection-moulded part by laser beam. At the same, a surface structure is produced which is favourable for the subsequent me...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a method for producing a metal coating on a plastics material part. The plastics material parts are temporarily chained together using a flexible support and an electrically conductive connection is provided between the flexible support and each plastics material part to produce a galvanic metal coating layer on a conductive layer of each plastics material part. The technical effect is the ability to produce a metal coating on plastics material parts using a simple and flexible method.

Problems solved by technology

The method without an external current has the drawback that it is time-consuming, because of low deposition rates, and a layer thickness of at most 20 μm can be achieved.

Thus, all of the methods share the problems of chemical metal coating, in particular the low metal thickness which can be achieved, the long dwell time of the parts in the metal coating baths and the associated high costs.

Moreover, in practice the varied nature of the process steps necessitates highly complex parts handling.

This complexity is also increased because component carriers, handling systems, grippers and transport containers have to be configured specifically for the respective constructions.

A person skilled in the art would recognize that the nature of the parts handling as bulk material in drum assemblies is inherently problematic, or may even be completely impossible, for delicate and mechanically sensitive parts.

Moreover, it is apparent that the quality of the metal coating is reduced by the abrasion of the parts against one another in the rotating drums.

First, a continuously conductive starter layer has to be formed in these regions by chemical metal coating or other adapted methods.

Second, all of the regions have to be connected to an electric potential.

In the prior art, the individual method steps such as pre-treatment, chemical metal coating etc., starting from the injection-moulded shaped part, are made more difficult by the fact that the respectively processed components of the individual method steps are collected together as bulk material.

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