Abstract
The surface modification of copolymer substrates of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) is significant for the electroplating industry. The sulfuric-chromic acid bath, used in the Electroless process, conditioning the ABS surface by selective oxidation of poly(butadiene) creating interconnected micro-holes, which allows an excellent mechanical adherence between the metallic film and the substrate. The chromium in its hexavalent form Cr(VI) is harmful to human beings and the environment being a carcinogenic element. This work shows a surface alteration effect with different types of chemical reagents on ABS surface and its treatment with the sulfuric-chromic acid bath in concentrations below those of the normal process, to analyze the possible application of the electroless process. The use of the different chemical reagents studied favored the alteration of the ABS surface causing various types of surface reactions, which could be shown spontaneously or during the conditioning step.
Highlights
The metallizing of plastic materials has great industrial importance worldwide
The use of the different chemical reagents studied favored the alteration of the ABS surface causing various types of surface reactions, which could be shown spontaneously or during the conditioning step
The final objective, using chemical reagents before the sulfuric-chromic acid bath, is obtaining a rough surface using low concentrations of Cr(VI) that allows having an excellent adherence between the substrate and the autocatalytically obtained plating through the Electroless process
Summary
The metallizing of plastic materials has great industrial importance worldwide. The capability of metallizing plastic substrates represents a significant reduction of costs in both production and transport of materials due to a lower weight compared to metallic products. Conductive silver wrinkles have been grown on an elastomer by combining polymer swelling with electroless deposition for ultrasensitive pressure sensors.[36] For such a reason, this work presents the study of various chemical reagents that pre-treat, through a chemical stage, the surface modification of ABS with subsequent treatment with the sulfuric-chromic acid bath at low concentrations. This work presents the study of various chemical reagents that pre-treat, through a chemical stage, the surface modification of ABS with subsequent treatment with the sulfuric-chromic acid bath at low concentrations This pretreatment is performed as a stage before that of conditioning within the Electroless process. The final objective, using chemical reagents before the sulfuric-chromic acid bath, is obtaining a rough surface using low concentrations of Cr(VI) that allows having an excellent adherence between the substrate and the autocatalytically obtained plating through the Electroless process. Saubestre[37] mentioned that the use of nitric acid and methanol favors solvation of the polymer surfaces, favoring its oxidation when performing the etching with the sulfuric-chromic acid bath at lower concentrations (75 g/L CrO3) than required by the usual process (350 g/L CrO3)
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