Decorative chrome electroplate on plastics
AssigneeLacks Enterprises, Inc.
InventorsLawrence P. Donovan, III, Roger J. Timmer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for forming a decorative chromium plating on a plastic substrate includes depositing an electrically conductive coating on the plastic substrate, electrodepositing on the electrically conductive coating a high leveling semi-bright nickel electroplate layer, electrodepositing on the high leveling semi-bright nickel electroplate layer a bright nickel electroplate layer, and electrodepositing over the bright nickel electroplate layer a chromium electroplate layer. An advantage of the process is that a lustrous decorative chromium plating having good corrosion resistance and thermal cycling characteristics is obtained without a copper sublayer, and while using relatively thin nickel sublayers.
Claims27
A process for forming a decorative chromium plating on a plastic substrate, comprising:
- electrolessly depositing an electrically conductive coating on a plastic substrate;
- electrodepositing on the electrically conductive coating a leveling semi-bright nickel electroplate layer, said leveling semi-bright nickel electroplate layer having a tensile stress of about 20,000 psi or less and a ductility of about 0.4 or higher as determined in accordance with ASTM-B-490, said leveling semi-bright nickel electroplate layer being deposited from an electrolyte comprised of nickel sulfate, nickel chloride and boric acid;
- electrodepositing on the leveling semi-bright nickel electroplate layer a bright nickel electroplate layer;
- and
- electrodepositing over the bright nickel electroplate layer a chromium electroplate layer.
A decorative chromium plating on a plastic substrate having an electrolessly deposited electrically conductive coating, comprising:
- a leveling semi-bright nickel electroplate layer on the electrically conductive coating, said leveling semi-bright nickel electroplate layer having a tensile strength of about 20,000 psi or less and a ductility of about 0.4 or higher as determined in accordance with ASTM-B-490, said leveling semi-bright nickel electroplate layer being deposited from an electrolyte comprised of nickel sulfate, nickel chloride and boric acid;
- a bright nickel electroplate layer on the leveling semi-bright electroplate layer;
- and
- a chromium electroplate layer on the bright nickel electroplate layer.
A process for forming a decorative chromium plating on a plastic substrate, comprising:
- electrolessly depositing an electrically conductive coating on the plastic substrate;
- electrodepositing on the electrically conductive coating a leveling semi-bright nickel electroplate layer having a tensile stress of about 20,000 psi or less and a ductility of about 0.4 or higher as determined in accordance with ASTM B-490, the leveling semi-bright nickel electroplate layer being deposited from an electrolyte containing nickel sulfate, nickel chloride, boric acid and an organic leveling agent in an amount that is effective to impart high leveling characteristics;
- electrodepositing on the leveling semi-bright nickel electroplate layer a bright nickel electroplate layer;
- and
- electrodepositing over the bright nickel electroplate layer a chromium electroplate layer.
A decorative chromium plating on a plastic substrate having an electrolessly deposited electrically conductive coating, comprising:
- a leveling semi-bright nickel electroplate layer on the electrically conductive coating, the leveling semi-bright nickel electroplate layer having a tensile stress of about 20,000 psi or less and a ductility of about 0.4 or higher as determined in accordance with ASTM-B-490, said leveling semi-bright nickel electroplate layer being deposited from an electrolyte containing nickel sulfate, nickel chloride and boric acid;
- a bright nickel electroplate layer on the leveling semi-bright nickel electroplate layer;
- and
- a chromium electroplate layer on the bright nickel electroplate layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.