Partial Plating of Automobile Resin Parts via Masking Paint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing partial plating methods for automobile resin parts are inefficient, leading to excessive material consumption, increased costs, and plating defects due to large coating areas and manual processes, particularly in wet electroplating, where battery attachment spaces are insufficient, causing improper formation and defects.
Innovation Solution
A partial plating method that applies masking paint only to areas not requiring plating on automobile resin parts, followed by a wet electroplating process that forms a plating layer on all surfaces except the painted areas, using a masking resin composition with poly vinyl chloride, organic solvents, and inorganic additives, and includes pre-treating steps like degreasing, etching, and activating to ensure proper electroplating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If masking material is roughly attached to the workpiece and painting is performed on the masking material, then partial plating can be achieved, but painting area becomes excessively large and adhesive material cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the masking function from separate masking materials and integrates it into the painting process itself. The painting is performed directly on the resin part surface without requiring separate masking materials, thereby eliminating the adhesive material cost and reducing coating material consumption while maintaining the partial plating function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the masking function with the painting process. Instead of applying masking material separately and then painting on top, the painting is applied directly to define the plating areas. This combination eliminates the need for separate masking materials and adhesives, reducing material costs and simplifying the manufacturing process.
2Manufacturing precision
If masking material is used to form assembly structure at front and rear portions, then partial plating can be controlled, but manual processes increase and productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the masking material assembly structure from the manufacturing process. Instead of forming complex assembly structures with masking materials at front and rear portions, the painting is applied directly to the resin part surface to define the plating areas, thereby eliminating manual masking processes and improving productivity while maintaining plating precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using masking materials to define plating areas and then painting on the masked surfaces, the patent inverts the approach by painting directly on the resin part surface to define the plating areas. This inversion eliminates the need for masking material assembly and manual handling, significantly improving productivity.
3Reliability
If coating process is performed on exterior of masking material, then complete coating is achieved, but coating area becomes excessively large and coating material cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the unnecessary coating on masking materials by painting directly on the resin part surface. This eliminates the coating area that would otherwise be consumed on masking material exteriors, reducing coating material consumption while ensuring complete and reliable coating only on the intended plating areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the definition of plating areas with the painting process itself. By painting directly on the resin part surface rather than on masking materials, the coating process simultaneously defines both the plating areas and eliminates unnecessary coating on masking material exteriors, achieving complete coating reliability with reduced material consumption.
4Productivity
If wet electroplating is performed without proper battery attachment space, then plating can be applied, but battery attaching part cannot be properly formed causing plating defect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary painting to define plating areas before the wet electroplating process. This preliminary action ensures that the resin part surface is properly prepared and that battery attaching parts are clearly defined and accessible, allowing proper battery attachment and preventing plating defects while maintaining high productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method reduces material costs and improves productivity by precisely controlling the plating area, preventing defects and enabling mass production of high-quality, corrosion-resistant automobile parts with a smooth, metallic appearance.
Implementation Method 1
a painting step of partially applying masking paint for plating only on an area not requiring plating in one side surface of the automobile resin part
Implementation Method 2
a wet electroplating step of attaching a current electrode through which current for electroplating flows on the non-painting portion and performing wet electroplating to form a plating layer on the entire surface of the automobile resin part except for the painting portion
Data Source
AI summary
A partial plating method of an automobile resin part may include a painting step of partially applying masking paint for plating on one side surface of an injection molded automobile resin product to form a painting portion where the masking paint for plating is applied and a non-painting portion where the masking paint for plating is not applied, and a wet electroplating step of attaching a current electrode for wet electroplating on the non-painting portion and performing the wet electroplating to form a plating layer on the entire surface of the automobile resin part except for the painting portion.