Product category:
Moulding materials
News Release from: Sabic Innovative Plastics | Subject: Cycoloy and Cycolac resins
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 07 May 2008
Plate chrome on plastics trim without
stress
Automotive trend is the reappearance of chrome trim and developments in chrome-on-plastics plating feature extremely low stress and superior adhesion to the metal layer.
The resurgence of chrome in automotive trim, door handles, and other decorative touches highlight materials that have been optimised for chrome plating The Sabic specialized grades of Cycoloy and Cycolac resins feature extremely low stress and superior adhesion to the metal layer
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 26 Feb 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Sabic told manufacturingtalk that it has optimised special grades of Cycoloy polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (PC/ABS) resin and Cycolac ABS resin for the injection molding and plating processes to deliver high quality and high yields.
This is especially important due to the relatively high cost of chrome plating, said Sabic.
The company added that the use of plated plastics components, when compared with all-metal parts, avoids the expense of secondary operations including milling and polishing.
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Operations manager, Application Technology, Sabic Innovative Plastics, Dirk Noordegraaf, said: "To help the auto industry leverage the popularity of chrome effects with optimal results, SabicInnovative Plastics is working with local customers to develop materials that deliver the elegance of chrome effects without all the challenges".
* Optimized properties for metallisation process - Sabic said that chrome plating is not only a fairly costly process, but can also be 'unforgiving' in terms of quality.
Sabic's Cycoloy CP8930 (high heat), Cycoloy CP8320 and MC1300 (medium heat) resins, and Cycolac MG37EP resin, can help platers minimise rejects and reduce system costs through higher yields.
These materials provide the following advantages.
* Easier molding than similar heat-resistant resins.
* A special impact modifier that ensures consistent adhesion of the chrome layer.
* Formulated for extremely low stress to ensure uniform plating behaviour.
* Selective plating - where only one material out of two is plated is a recent development in chrome plating, said Sabic.
The company is offering a novel combination of materials that is extremely selective in plating.
When Xylex X7509 or X8409 resin grades are combined with the special Cycoloy and Cycolac resin grades and chrome plated, the Xylex resin will remain completely free from plating.
This can offer unique cost savings and design freedom for a range of applications including chrome-plated day and night designs, partially plated logos, buttons, and other trim components.
Xylex resin grades are available in transparent, colored transparent, and opaque colors including the latest automotive trend, Piano Black.
All pass the chrome-plating process without discoloration or gloss reduction.
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