Trim piece and machining method therefor, and vehicle
By combining electroplating and laser engraving processes in the electroplating layer to create decorative patterns, the problem of lack of variation in texture design in traditional electroplating processes is solved, thereby improving the aesthetics and design flexibility of decorative parts.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/CN2025/095664
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-07-31
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-05
AI Technical Summary
In traditional electroplating processes, the plating layer covers the surface of the textured pattern, resulting in a lack of variation in texture design. As the plating material gradually fills in the texture, the texture design of electroplated products lacks refinement and detail, increasing design limitations.
By combining electroplating and laser engraving processes, decorative patterns are set in the electroplating layer. The decorative patterns are laser-engraved on the first electroplating layer and then covered with a second electroplating layer, preserving the texture details of the decorative patterns and enhancing their aesthetics.
The design details of the decorative patterns are retained, which enhances the aesthetics and uniqueness of the decorative parts, reduces the cost of design pattern conversion, and avoids the limitations of mold processing.
Smart Images

Figure CN2025095664_05022026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
A decorative component, a method for processing the decorative component, and an automobile.
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411038247.2, filed on July 31, 2024, entitled "A decorative part, a method for processing the decorative part and an automobile", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field
[0002] This application relates to the field of electroplating technology, specifically to a decorative part, a method for processing the decorative part, and an automobile. Background Technology
[0003] With the continuous development of science and technology, electroplating technology has been widely used in many fields. Due to its performance characteristics of corrosion resistance, high hardness and giving parts a better appearance and texture, it has been deeply integrated into the development of the automotive industry.
[0004] In related technologies, chromium plating is commonly used on electroplated parts, which has performance requirements regarding plating thickness. Moreover, in traditional electroplating processes, the plating layer covers the surface of the textured pattern. Technical issues
[0005] However, the chrome plating process, due to its performance requirements regarding plating thickness, cannot achieve fine texture design on the surface of electroplated products. Furthermore, in traditional electroplating processes, the plating layer covers the surface of the textured pattern, gradually filling in the texture and resulting in a loss of refinement and detail. This leads to a lack of variation in the texture design of electroplated parts, increasing the limitations on their design possibilities. Technical solutions
[0006] This application provides a decorative part, a method for processing the decorative part, and an automobile. By combining electroplating and laser engraving processes, the position of the decorative pattern in the electroplating layer is set, the texture details of the decorative pattern are preserved, and the aesthetics of the entire decorative part are enhanced.
[0007] In a first aspect, this application provides a decorative component, which includes a decorative component body, a decorative layer disposed on one side of the decorative component body, the decorative layer including a first electroplating layer and a second electroplating layer, the first electroplating layer being disposed on the outer surface of the decorative component body, a decorative pattern being disposed on the first electroplating layer, and the second electroplating layer being disposed on the first electroplating layer and covering the decorative pattern.
[0008] In one possible design of the first aspect, the first electroplating layer includes a base layer, an acid copper layer, and a semi-bright nickel layer. The base layer is located on the outer surface of the decorative body, the acid copper layer is located on the base layer, the semi-bright nickel layer is located on the acid copper layer, and the decorative pattern is set on the semi-bright nickel layer.
[0009] In one possible design approach of the first aspect, the thickness of the substrate layer is 7 μm to 8 μm.
[0010] In one possible design approach of the first aspect, the thickness of the acid copper layer is 15 μm to 25 μm.
[0011] In one possible design approach of the first aspect, the thickness of the semi-bright nickel layer is 11 μm to 13 μm.
[0012] In one possible design of the first aspect, the second electroplating layer includes a bright nickel layer and a chromium layer, the bright nickel layer being located on the first electroplating layer, the bright nickel layer covering the decorative pattern, and the chromium layer being located on the bright nickel layer.
[0013] In one possible design approach of the first aspect, the thickness of the fully bright nickel layer is 1 μm to 10 μm.
[0014] In one possible design of the first aspect, the thickness of the chromium layer is 0.1 μm to 1 μm.
[0015] In one possible design approach of the first aspect, the decorative pattern includes vector patterns.
[0016] In one possible design approach of the first aspect, the gloss of the chromium layer is less than or equal to 50 GU.
[0017] Secondly, this application provides a method for processing a decorative part, comprising the following steps:
[0018] The first electroplating layer is electroplated onto the body of the decorative part;
[0019] A decorative pattern is formed on the first electroplated layer;
[0020] A second electroplating layer is electroplated on the first electroplating layer, and the second electroplating layer covers the decorative pattern.
[0021] In one possible design approach of the second aspect, electroplating a first electroplating layer on the body of the decorative element includes:
[0022] Electroplating a nickel layer onto the decorative component body;
[0023] Electroplating an acid copper layer onto a nickel plating layer;
[0024] A semi-bright nickel layer is electroplated on the acid copper layer.
[0025] In one possible design approach of the second aspect, a decorative pattern is formed on the first electroplated layer, including:
[0026] Decorative patterns are laser-engraved onto a semi-bright nickel plating layer using laser engraving technology.
[0027] In one possible design approach for the second aspect, the decorative pattern includes vector graphics.
[0028] In one possible design approach of the second aspect, after electroplating the first electroplating layer on the decorative part body, it further includes any one or more of the following steps:
[0029] The first electroplated layer is degreased, washed with water, pickled, passivated, and then painted.
[0030] In one possible design of the second aspect, electroplating a second electroplating layer on the first electroplating layer includes:
[0031] Electroplating a full-brightness nickel layer onto a semi-brightness nickel layer;
[0032] A chromium layer is electroplated on a bright nickel layer.
[0033] Thirdly, this application provides an automobile, which includes a body and decorative elements provided by the first aspect and any possible design thereof, the decorative elements being disposed on the body. Beneficial effects
[0034] This application sets the decorative pattern on the first electroplating layer, avoiding the first electroplating layer from covering the decorative pattern, greatly reducing the filling of the decorative pattern texture by the plating material, and the texture of the decorative pattern is directly reflected on the second electroplating layer, preserving the design details of the design pattern, making the decorative part more aesthetically pleasing. Attached Figure Description
[0035] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below.
[0036] Figure 1 is a structural diagram of a decorative component provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0037] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a decorative component provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0038] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a decorative component provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0039] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for processing a decorative part according to an embodiment of this application;
[0040] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the process of electroplating a first electroplating layer on the body of the decorative part according to an embodiment of this application;
[0041] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the process of electroplating a second electroplating layer on the body of the decorative part according to an embodiment of this application.
[0042] In the diagram: 10 - decorative body; 20 - first electroplating layer; 30 - decorative pattern; 40 - second electroplating layer; 50 - connector.
[0043] 21-Base layer; 22-Acid copper layer; 23-Semi-bright nickel layer; 41-Bright nickel layer; 42-Chromium layer.
[0044] Implementation methods of this application
[0045] The technical solutions in this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0046] With the continuous development of science and technology, electroplating technology has been widely used in many fields. Due to its performance characteristics of corrosion resistance, high hardness and giving parts a better appearance and texture, it has been deeply integrated into the development of the automotive industry.
[0047] In the automotive industry, chrome plating is widely used on automotive parts. Due to the performance requirements of plating thickness, it is impossible to design fine textures on the surface of electroplated products, resulting in a lack of diversity in the texture design of automotive electroplated parts and increasing the limitations on the design of automotive electroplated parts.
[0048] Moreover, in related technologies, the texture design on parts is generally processed using molds. Due to the limitations of mold opening and laser texturing processes, the cost of changing the design pattern on electroplated parts is too high, and the pattern cannot be adjusted or changed according to design needs.
[0049] In traditional electroplating processes, the plating layer covers the surface of the textured pattern. The plating material gradually fills in the required depth of the texture, resulting in a loss of refinement and detail in the texture.
[0050] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides a decorative component, which can be a decorative component in the automotive field, such as an interior or exterior automotive component.
[0051] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, Figure 1 is a structural diagram of a decorative component provided in an embodiment of this application, and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a decorative component provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the decorative component includes a decorative component body 10, wherein a decorative layer is provided on one side of the decorative component body 10, and the decorative layer covers the outer surface of the decorative component body 10, which can increase the gloss and aesthetics of the decorative component.
[0052] The decorative layer includes a first electroplating layer 20, a decorative pattern 30, and a second electroplating layer 40. The first electroplating layer 20 is disposed on the outer surface of the decorative body 10, the decorative pattern 30 is disposed on the first electroplating layer 20, and the pattern is a vector pattern. The second electroplating layer 40 is disposed on the first electroplating layer 20 and covers the pattern.
[0053] In this embodiment, a decorative pattern 30 is provided on the first electroplated layer 20, which further enhances the aesthetics of the entire decorative part. A second electroplated layer 40 is provided on the first electroplated layer 20, which has a certain gloss and hardness, improving the surface hardness and aesthetics of the decorative part.
[0054] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the decorative pattern 30 is only covered by the second electroplating layer 40. The thickness of the second electroplating layer 40 is relatively thin compared to the thickness of the entire electroplating layer (including the first electroplating layer 20 and the second electroplating layer 40). The texture depth of the decorative pattern 30 is filled less, thus preserving the texture direction of the decorative pattern 30 and the design details of the decorative pattern 30. This allows the decorative part to still show the design details of the decorative pattern 30 after electroplating.
[0055] Compared to traditional techniques where the entire electroplating layer covers the surface of the patterned texture, the plating material gradually fills in the patterned texture of the electroplated product, resulting in a loss of refinement and detail in the texture. After electroplating, the pattern on the decorative part becomes blurred. The design of this embodiment retains the specific details of the decorative pattern 30, greatly enhancing the aesthetics and uniqueness of the decorative part.
[0056] In this embodiment, the decorative pattern 30 is a vector pattern, which can be laser-engraved on the first electroplated layer 20 using a laser engraving machine. The laser engraving machine can be a fiber infrared laser engraving machine, an ultraviolet laser engraving machine, a carbon dioxide laser engraving machine, a green laser engraving machine, a lamp-pumped YAG laser engraving machine, etc.
[0057] Vector graphics are graphics described using straight lines and curves. The elements that make up these graphics are points, lines, rectangles, polygons, circles, and arcs, etc. They are all obtained through mathematical formulas and have the characteristic of not losing their quality after editing.
[0058] Therefore, the decorative pattern 30 in this application can be customized or edited using vector software on a computer device. The decorative pattern 30 can be designed with a wide variety of patterns and styles, and can support customization, with a broad design range. Compared with traditional technologies that use molds to process patterns, this significantly reduces the cost of converting design patterns, and is not limited by molds, allowing for the design of different decorative patterns 30 according to design requirements.
[0059] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a connector 50 is also provided on the decorative component body 10. The connector 50 is fixedly connected to the decorative component body 10. For example, the connector 50 can be welded or bonded to the decorative component body 10. The connector 50 can also be integrally formed with the decorative component body 10. The main function of the connector 50 is to cooperate with other components to realize the connection between the decorative component and other components.
[0060] In one embodiment of this application, referring to FIG3, FIG3 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a decorative part provided in this embodiment. FIG3 shows a decorative pattern 30, which does not represent a solid structure, but is a textured pattern laser-engraved on the first electroplated layer 20. FIG3 of this embodiment shows it only for the convenience of understanding the setting position of the decorative pattern 30.
[0061] As shown in Figure 3, the first electroplated layer 20 is composed of various electroplated layers. Specifically, the first electroplated layer 20 includes a base layer 21, an acid copper layer 22, and a semi-bright nickel layer 23. The base layer 21 is located on the outer surface of the decorative part body 10, the acid copper layer 22 is located on the base layer 21, and the semi-bright nickel layer 23 is located on the acid copper layer 22. The decorative pattern 30 is disposed on the semi-bright nickel layer 23.
[0062] The base layer 21 serves as the substrate for the first electroplated layer 20, providing adhesion and contact area for subsequent processes. It also acts as a barrier, preventing reactions between subsequent plating layers and the decorative component body 10. The acid copper layer 22 is primarily used to ensure the first electroplated layer 20 meets various performance tests, including: thermal cycling test and neutral salt spray test. The thermal cycling test involves lowering the temperature from 70°C-80°C to -35°C-30°C every 10 hours, testing the performance of the object under test. The neutral salt spray test involves subjecting the object to a 48-hour salt spray test. Electroplating the acid copper layer 22 onto the base layer 21 provides corrosion resistance and enhances the surface finish and metallic luster of the decorative component body 10. The semi-bright nickel layer 23 enhances wear resistance, hardness, and other properties, and further strengthens the corrosion resistance of the first electroplated layer 20.
[0063] The semi-bright nickel layer 23 is mainly combined with the acid copper layer 22, which gives the first electroplated layer 20 good corrosion resistance.
[0064] As shown in Figure 3, the second electroplating layer 40 includes a bright nickel layer 41 and a chromium layer 42. The bright nickel layer 41 is located on the first electroplating layer 20, and the chromium layer 42 is located on the bright nickel layer 41. Both the bright nickel layer 41 and the chromium layer 42 cover the pattern.
[0065] Specifically, when the first electroplating layer 20 includes a base layer 21, an acid copper layer 22, and a semi-bright nickel layer 23, a corresponding decorative pattern 30 is laser-engraved on the semi-bright nickel layer 23, and then electroplating continues on the semi-bright nickel layer 23. The full-bright nickel layer 41 in the second electroplating layer 40 is located on the semi-bright nickel layer 23 of the first electroplating layer 20, and then a chromium layer 42 is electroplated on the full-bright nickel layer 41. The semi-bright nickel layer 23 serves as the underlayer for the full-bright nickel layer 41 and can form a potential difference with the full-bright nickel layer 41, further improving corrosion resistance. The full-bright nickel layer 41 requires good flatness, a bright and full plating, and its function is more inclined towards decorative plating. Therefore, the decorative pattern 30 is placed between the semi-bright nickel layer 23 and the full-bright nickel layer 41. The chromium layer 42 has high brightness and high hardness, and can prevent rust on the surface of the decorative part body 10, improve the appearance of the decorative part, and at the same time improve its wear resistance.
[0066] In this embodiment, the thickness of the substrate layer 21 can be set to 7 μm to 8 μm, the thickness of the acid copper layer 22 can be set to 15 μm to 25 μm, and the thickness of the semi-bright nickel layer 23 can be set to 11 μm to 13 μm. The thickness of the fully bright nickel layer 41 is 1 μm to 10 μm, and the thickness of the chromium layer 42 is 0.1 μm to 1 μm.
[0067] When electroplating the base layer 21 of the first electroplating layer 20 onto the decorative part body 10, the material used can be nickel. That is, a nickel plating layer is formed on the decorative part body 10 as the bottom plating layer.
[0068] It should be noted that, since the base layer 21 is the bottom plating layer in the first electroplating layer 20 that is in contact with the decorative part body 10, other materials can be used for electroplating according to the material testing requirements of different products. For example, cobalt plating can be used to form an electroplated copper layer on the decorative part body 10 as the bottom plating layer. That is, the base layer 21 can be a nickel plating layer or a copper plating layer, or other materials can be used for electroplating to form the base layer 21 as required.
[0069] When electroplating the acid copper layer 22 in the first electroplating layer 20 on the decorative part body 10, the material used includes acid copper. Alternatively, bright copper can be used for electroplating depending on specific requirements. Bright copper includes red copper, purple copper, yellow mixed copper, and white copper plating.
[0070] When electroplating the chromium layer 42 in the second electroplating layer 40 on the decorative part body 10, the material used includes chromium, and environmentally friendly decorative chromium can be used, wherein the environmentally friendly decorative chromium can be electroplated bright chromium commonly used in the electroplating industry.
[0071] In one embodiment of this application, a method for processing a decorative part is also provided, for preparing the decorative part in the above embodiment. Referring to FIG4, FIG4 is a schematic flowchart of a method for processing a decorative part provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in FIG4, the processing method provided in this embodiment includes the following steps:
[0072] S1. Electroplating a first electroplating layer 20 onto the decorative part body 10.
[0073] S2. A decorative pattern 30 is laser-engraved on the first electroplating layer 20 using laser engraving technology.
[0074] S3. Electroplating a second electroplating layer 40 on the first electroplating layer.
[0075] In one embodiment of this application, before electroplating the first electroplating layer 20 on the decorative body 10, a series of treatments are required on the decorative body 10 to ensure good electroplating conditions. Specifically, this includes degreasing, roughening, and palladium activation treatment of the decorative body.
[0076] In this embodiment of the application, the degreasing treatment of the decorative part body 10 includes:
[0077] The decorative part body 10 is degreased using a degreasing solution, including but not limited to physical-mechanical degreasing, organic solvent degreasing, chemical degreasing, and electrochemical degreasing. The degreasing treatment of the decorative part body 10 primarily removes saponified and non-saponified oil stains to ensure the adhesion and quality of the outer surface of the decorative part body 10. The degreasing solution used contains, but is not limited to, alkaline substances and surfactants.
[0078] After the decorative part body 10 is degreased, it is placed in a water tank for a hydrophilic treatment to test the degreasing effect. The surface of the decorative part body 10 is checked to see if the surfactant components are evenly and directionally arranged. If so, it indicates that the surface of the decorative part body 10 is completely hydrophilic. The hydrophilic agents used include, but are not limited to, chromic acid, sulfuric acid, and surface-fixing agents.
[0079] In this embodiment of the application, the decorative component body 10 is roughened, including:
[0080] The degreased decorative part body 10 is placed in a mixture mainly composed of chromic acid and sulfuric acid, along with auxiliary agents including wetting agents and anti-fogging agents. The temperature of the mixture is maintained at 50–60°C, and the roughening time is 5–8 minutes. Chromic acid and sulfuric acid are added in multiple batches to prevent chromic anhydride precipitation.
[0081] The decorative part body 10, after roughening treatment, needs to be washed with water. The water washing in this embodiment can be performed according to the following steps:
[0082] First, rinse the decorative part body 10 in cold or warm water, then rinse it in hot water, and finally rinse it with purified water.
[0083] It should be noted that, in the embodiments of this application, "cool water" refers to water with a temperature range of 20℃ to 30℃, "warm water" refers to water with a temperature range of 50℃ to 60℃, and "hot water" refers to water with a temperature range of 60℃ to 80℃. "Pure water" refers to water with a neutral pH value and free of impurities visible to the naked eye.
[0084] In addition, a weakly alkaline trisodium phosphate solution of a certain concentration can be used to neutralize the acidic substances remaining on the surface of the decorative part body 10, and to clean and remove organic matter that is not easily soluble in water. At the same time, a passivation film is formed on the surface of the decorative part body 10 to protect it from subsequent contamination by impurities.
[0085] After cleaning the decorative part body 10 with a weakly alkaline solution, the decorative part body 10 needs to be washed with water again. The water washing steps can refer to the water washing steps described in the previous embodiments.
[0086] In this embodiment, the decorative part body 10 undergoes palladium activation treatment followed by palladium sensitization treatment. The palladium activation and sensitization treatments can refer to relevant processes in conventional electroplating. The palladium activation and sensitization treatments in this embodiment include:
[0087] The decorative part body 10 is placed in a palladium chloride solution, and stannous chloride is added as a catalyst. Using the stannous chloride catalyst, based on the reduction effect of stannous chloride on palladium chloride, tetravalent tin ions form a colloidal complex with metallic palladium, so that metallic palladium is adsorbed onto the surface of the decorative part body 10.
[0088] After palladium activation and palladium sensitization treatment is performed on the decorative part body 10, it is washed with water. The water washing steps can refer to the water washing steps described in the foregoing embodiments.
[0089] Then, a degumming agent is used to remove the colloidal palladium outer layer divalent tin adsorbed on the surface of the activated decorative part body 10, leaving highly active palladium catalytic centers to promote palladium activity.
[0090] Then the decorative part body 10 is washed again with water. The washing steps can refer to the washing steps described in the previous embodiment.
[0091] In one embodiment of this application, referring to FIG5, FIG5 is a schematic flowchart of electroplating a first electroplating layer 20 on the decorative body 10 according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in FIG5, electroplating the first electroplating layer 20 on the decorative body 10 may include the following steps:
[0092] S11. Electroplating a nickel plating layer onto the decorative part body 10.
[0093] Specifically, the decorative part body 10 can be chemically nickel plated using a chemical nickel plating solution.
[0094] In this embodiment, an electrolyte composed of nickel salt, conductive salt, pH buffer, and wetting agent is used, with metallic nickel as the anode and the decorative part body 10 as the cathode, and a direct current is applied. A uniform and dense nickel plating layer with a thickness of 7 μm to 8 μm is deposited on the part. The purpose is to improve the surface hardness of the decorative part body 10 and also to enhance the adhesion between the subsequent plating layer and the substrate, thereby improving the performance of the entire plating system.
[0095] After the decorative part body 10 is electroplated with a nickel plating layer, it needs to be washed with water. The washing steps can refer to the washing steps described in the previous embodiment.
[0096] S12, Electroplating an acid copper layer 22 onto the nickel plating layer.
[0097] In this embodiment, the decorative part body 10, which has been electroplated with nickel, is placed in a plating solution composed of pure water, copper sulfate, sulfuric acid, activated carbon powder, and hydrochloric acid. A uniform and dense acid copper layer 22 is deposited on the nickel plating layer of the decorative part body 10. The thickness of the acid copper layer 22 is 15μm to 25μm.
[0098] During the electroplating of an acid copper layer 22 onto the nickel plating layer of the decorative part body 10, the plating solution is stirred and equipped with a cathode oscillator. For example, when moving the plating solution laterally, the stroke amplitude is 100 mm, and the oscillation is 20-25 times per minute. When moving the plating solution vertically, the stroke amplitude is 60 mm, and the oscillation is 25-30 times per minute. The anode is a phosphor bronze anode placed in a titanium basket. In addition, the filter pump needs to filter the entire plating solution 6 times or more within 1 hour.
[0099] After the decorative body 10 is electroplated with an acid copper layer 22, the decorative body 10 needs to be washed with water. The washing steps can refer to the washing steps described in the previous embodiment.
[0100] S13. Electroplating a semi-bright nickel layer 23 onto the acid copper layer 22.
[0101] In this embodiment, the decorative part body 10, which has been electroplated with an acid copper layer 22, is placed in a plating solution composed of nickel sulfate, nickel chloride, boric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and chemically pure activated carbon. The temperature of the plating solution is controlled at 60°C to 65°C. After low-current electrolytic treatment with a corrugated iron plate for 18 to 24 hours, a nickel plating additive is added, and low-current electrolytic treatment is performed for about 10 minutes. A uniform and dense semi-bright nickel plating layer is deposited on the acid copper layer 22 of the decorative part body 10. The thickness of the semi-bright nickel plating layer is 11 μm to 13 μm.
[0102] After the decorative body 10 is electroplated with a semi-bright nickel layer 23, the decorative body 10 is washed with water. The washing steps can refer to the washing steps described in the previous embodiment.
[0103] In addition, after washing the decorative part body 10 with water, the decorative part body 10 is placed in an oven to evaporate the water vapor on the surface of the decorative part body 10 using high temperature. At the same time, it can also improve the crystallinity of the electroplated layer and enhance its corrosion resistance.
[0104] In one embodiment of this application, a decorative pattern 30 is laser-engraved on the first electroplated layer 20 using a laser engraving process. The following steps can be taken:
[0105] Infrared fiber laser engraving machines are used to perform fine texture laser engraving on the surface of the decorative part body 10, mainly on the semi-bright nickel plating layer of the decorative part body 10. The laser engraving depth is 7μm to 8μm, and the wavelength of the infrared light used is 1064nm. The parameters of the infrared fiber laser engraving machine are as follows: power 80%, frequency 20KHz, speed 1500mm / s, on-time delay -150μs, off-time delay 150μs, end delay 500μs, and corner delay 100μs. The enable type is "one-step around the edge," with a line spacing of 0.09mm and a ring spacing of 0.5mm.
[0106] In one embodiment of this application, before electroplating the second electroplating layer 40 onto the decorative part body 10, the decorative part body 10, which has been electroplated with the first electroplating layer 20, needs to be processed again. The relevant method for this second processing can be found in the following steps:
[0107] After electroplating the first electroplating layer 20 onto the decorative part body, the decorative part body 10 with the first electroplating layer 20 needs to be processed again. This includes:
[0108] The first electroplated layer 20 is degreased. The degreasing method described in the previous embodiment can be used to thoroughly clean the material surface and prevent bubbles from forming on the first electroplated layer 20.
[0109] The first electroplated layer 20 is washed with water to remove residual degreasing agent, dust, and other impurities. After washing, the decorative part body 10 with the first electroplated layer 20 is dried.
[0110] The first electroplated layer 20 is pickled to remove the oxide layer formed on its surface. Since the surface material of the first electroplated layer 20 is highly reactive after pickling, it is passivated. A passivating agent is used to treat the surface of the first electroplated layer 20 after pickling to reduce its surface activity. Then, a primer is sprayed onto the surface of the first electroplated layer 20 to increase its adhesion and corrosion resistance.
[0111] It should be noted that in actual processing, the above steps can be followed sequentially, or one or more steps can be selected for implementation.
[0112] In one embodiment of this application, referring to FIG6, FIG6 is a schematic flowchart of electroplating a second electroplating layer 40 on the decorative component body 10 according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in FIG6, electroplating a second electroplating layer 40 on the decorative component body 10 may include the following steps:
[0113] S31. Electroplating a full-brightness nickel layer 41 onto the semi-brightness nickel layer 23.
[0114] First, an electrodeposition process is performed. The metal materials required for electroplating the full bright nickel layer 41 are mixed in a certain proportion and added to the electrolyte. After starting the current, the decorative part body 10 with the first electroplated layer 20 is placed into the electrolyte for electrodeposition.
[0115] Then, a combination brightener is added to a conventional electroless nickel-phosphorus alloy plating solution to maintain an appropriate pH environment, and a full bright nickel layer 41 is formed on the surface of the decorative body 10 with the first electroplated layer 20 (semi-bright nickel layer 23). The full bright nickel layer 41 is also a full bright electroless nickel alloy plating layer, and the thickness of the full bright nickel layer 41 is 7μm to 8μm.
[0116] S32, A chromium layer 42 is electroplated on a bright nickel layer 41.
[0117] In this embodiment, the decorative part body 10 is chrome-plated, with the chrome layer 42 serving as the outermost layer of the multi-layer electroplating for protective purposes. The decorative part body 10 is immersed in a chrome plating solution, and chrome deposition is performed after an electric current is applied. A thin layer of chrome less than 1 μm is plated on the surface of the decorative part body 10, and the thickness of the chrome layer 42 is 0.1 μm to 1 μm.
[0118] After the chromium layer 42 is electroplated onto the surface of the decorative part, the electroplating process of the entire decorative part body 10 is completed. From the inside to the outside, a nickel plating layer, an acid copper layer 22, a semi-bright nickel layer 23, a full-bright nickel layer 41, and a chromium layer 42 are formed on the outer surface of the decorative part body 10, thus forming the desired decorative part. Among them, after the semi-bright nickel layer 23 is electroplated, a decorative pattern 30 is laser-engraved on the semi-bright nickel layer 23. The decorative pattern 30 is a vector graphic.
[0119] After the entire electroplating process is completed, the decorative parts are first rinsed in cool or warm water, then cleaned in hot water, and finally rinsed with pure water. During the rinsing process, the water in the last two tanks is appropriately heated, with the temperature controlled at around 60 degrees Celsius. Temperature increases the surface tension of the water, reducing it and accelerating the removal of water from the workpiece surface.
[0120] Then, place the decorative piece under hot air to blow away the water droplets from its surface, achieving a drying effect.
[0121] In this embodiment, the laser engraving process has an electro-optical conversion efficiency of over 28%, which is more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly compared to the 2%-10% conversion efficiency of other types of laser engraving. In related traditional technologies, electroplating patterns are limited by mold opening and laser texturing processes, making changes to the design too costly, and the patterns cannot be adjusted according to design needs. However, the decorative pattern 30 in this embodiment can be designed using vector software, allowing for a wide variety of patterns and styles, supporting customized products, and offering a broad design range. Furthermore, it avoids the need for mold-based texture processing, significantly reducing the cost of design pattern conversion.
[0122] Furthermore, in traditional electroplating processes, all plating layers cover the surface of the pattern's texture layer, and the plating material gradually fills in the pattern's texture, resulting in a loss of texture refinement and detail. In this embodiment, however, the decorative pattern 30 is placed on the semi-bright nickel layer 23, avoiding the nickel plating layer, the acid copper layer 22, and the semi-bright nickel layer 23. This significantly reduces the amount of plating material filling the texture of the decorative pattern 30, and the texture of the decorative pattern 30 is directly reflected on the full-bright nickel layer 41 and the chromium layer 42, preserving the design details of the pattern and making the decorative part more aesthetically pleasing.
Claims
1. A decorative part, comprising a decorative part body (10), one side of the decorative part body being provided with a decorative layer, the decorative layer comprising a first electroplated layer (20) and a second electroplated layer (40), the first electroplated layer being provided on an outer surface of the decorative part body, a decorative pattern (30) being provided on the first electroplated layer, the second electroplated layer being provided on the first electroplated layer and covering the decorative pattern.
2. The trim piece of claim 1, wherein, The first electroplated layer comprises a base layer (21), an acid copper layer (22) and a semi-bright nickel layer (23), the base layer being located on the outer surface of the decorative part body, the acid copper layer being located on the base layer, the semi-bright nickel layer being located on the acid copper layer, the decorative pattern being provided on the semi-bright nickel layer.
3. The trim piece of claim 2, wherein, The thickness of the base layer is 7 μm to 8 μm.
4. The trim piece of claim 2, wherein, The thickness of the acid copper layer is 15 μm to 25 μm.
5. The trim piece of claim 2, wherein, The thickness of the semi-bright nickel layer is 11 μm to 13 μm.
6. The trim piece of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The second electroplated layer comprises a full-bright nickel layer (41) and a chromium layer (42), the full-bright nickel layer being located on the first electroplated layer, the full-bright nickel layer covering the decorative pattern, the chromium layer being located on the full-bright nickel layer.
7. The trim piece of claim 6, wherein, The thickness of the full-bright nickel layer is 1 μm to 10 μm.
8. The trim piece of claim 6, wherein, The thickness of the chromium layer is 0.1 μm to 1 μm.
9. The trim piece of claim 6, wherein, The decorative pattern comprises a vector pattern.
10. The trim piece of claim 6, wherein, The glossiness of the chromium layer is less than or equal to 50 GU. 11.A processing method of a decorative part, comprising the following steps: electroplating a first electroplated layer on a decorative part body; forming a decorative pattern on the first electroplated layer; electroplating a second electroplated layer on the first electroplated layer, the second electroplated layer covering the decorative pattern.
12. The method of processing a trim according to claim 11, wherein, The step of electroplating a first electroplated layer on a decorative part body comprises: electroplating a nickel plating layer on the decorative part body; electroplating an acid copper layer on the nickel plating layer; electroplating a semi-bright nickel layer on the acid copper layer.
13. The method of processing a trim according to claim 12, wherein, The step of forming a decorative pattern on the first electroplated layer comprises: laser-engraving the decorative pattern on the electroplated semi-bright nickel layer by using a laser-engraving process.
14. The method of processing a trim according to claim 13, wherein, The decorative pattern comprises a vector pattern.
15. The method of processing a trim according to claim 14, wherein, After the step of electroplating a first electroplated layer on a decorative part body, the method further comprises any one or more of the following steps: performing oil removal treatment on the first electroplated layer; performing water washing on the first electroplated layer; performing acid washing on the first electroplated layer; performing passivation treatment on the first electroplated layer; performing paint spraying treatment on the first electroplated layer.
16. The method of processing a trim according to claim 15, wherein, The step of electroplating a second electroplated layer on the first electroplated layer comprises: electroplating a full-bright nickel layer on the semi-bright nickel layer; electroplating a chromium layer on the full-bright nickel layer. 17.An automobile, comprising a vehicle body and a decorative part according to any one of claims 1-10, the decorative part being provided on the vehicle body.
Citation Information
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