Pre-treatment for plating ABS resin with electrolytic sulfuric acid

Chrome-free, heavy metal-free resin plating pre-treatment technology

ABS resin is widely used for plating applications due to its excellent mechanical strength, impact resistance, and moldability, as well as its ability to achieve a beautiful metallic luster on the surface. In the conventional plating process for ABS resin, the resin surface is chemically etched with a solution containing hexavalent chromium as a pretreatment, which provides an essential anchor effect for strong adhesion of the plating layer. This hexavalent chromium is highly toxic and has significant environmental impact, leading to global regulatory restrictions on its use. In this technology, by using an electrolytic treatment with a sulfuric acid solution applied with a conductive diamond electrode as a pretreatment for plating, a fine uneven structure (anchor effect) is formed on the surface of the ABS resin, enabling the formation of a plating layer with high adhesion. This technology is expected to be a clean and environmentally friendly alternative that does not use any highly toxic chromic acid, thereby reducing the burden on both the working environment and the global environment. Additionally, since the sulfuric acid solution can be reused through repeated electrolytic treatment, it can significantly reduce wastewater compared to conventional processes.

Plating EquipmentOther surface treatment equipment