Jump to main content
US EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Search
Search
Main menu
Environmental Topics
Laws & Regulations
About EPA
Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)
Contact Us
Print
Feedback
Export to File
Search:
This record has one attached file:
Add More Files
Attach File(s):
Display Name for File*:
Save
Citation
Tags
HERO ID
1174450
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Surface conditioning of ABS for metallization without the use of chromium baths
Author(s)
Teixeira, LAC; Santini, MC
Year
2005
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
Journal of Materials Processing Technology
ISSN:
0924-0136
Volume
170
Issue
1-2
Page Numbers
37-41
DOI
10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2005.04.075
Web of Science Id
WOS:000233438700006
URL
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0924013605005170
Exit
Abstract
Surface conditioning (also referred to as etching) of plastics prior to metallization is generally conducted with sulfuric/chromic acid solutions. Although these baths perform well technically, the presence of Cr(VI) imposes serious operating problems of an environmental nature. The present work reports the results of a study of surface conditioning of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) using solutions based on sulfuric acid, with hydrogen peroxide and/or nitric acid, replacing chromic acid, as oxidants. Process performance was evaluated by SEM and by the uniformity and adherence of electroless nickel coatings applied on selected conditioned samples. The results showed that the types of solutions evaluated could be optimized to perform as well as the chromic-based baths, however, providing a process which is far more environmentally friendly.
Keywords
chemical etching; conditioning; polymers; ABS
Home
Learn about HERO
Using HERO
Search HERO
Projects in HERO
Risk Assessment
Transparency & Integrity