Metallization of polymer composite parts for painting
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsHsai-Yin Lee, Yar-Ming Wang, Tao Xie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The quality of painted surfaces of polymer composites is improved by first forming an electroless metal coating on the molded surface of the composite and then electroplating a coating of zinc or zinc alloy on the metallized composite surface. The “galvanized” composite surface provides a good base for electrostatic deposition of either liquid or powder paint and the zinc surface prevents the formation of defects in the painted surface during heating of the composite to dry or cure the paint film.
Claims10
A method of preparing the surface of a polymer composite article for painting, said method comprising forming a conductive metal coating on said surface and thereafter electrolytically depositing a coating of zinc or zinc based alloy on said conductive coating.
A method of painting the surface of a polymer composite article, said method comprising;
- forming a conductive metal film on surfaces of said composite article that is to be painted,
- electrolytically depositing a coating of zinc or zinc based alloy on said conductive film, the thickness of said zinc or zinc alloy coating being at least fifteen micrometers,
- depositing a coating of paint on said zinc or zinc alloy coating and, thereafter
- baking said paint coating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.