Aimplas innovates in the process of chrome plating to plastic surfaces

Aimplas participates in the European project Ecosam funded within the sixth framework programme by the European Union. The project began on 1 October with a meeting in the United Kingdom at the headquarters of the Coordinator of the project, Rapra. The launch meeting was attended by a representative of each of the 11 partners that make up the Consortium. The group consists of companies, technology centers and a University. Aimplas, Avanzare, Faperin S.L., Jet and Verdú, and the Institute for emerging chemical technologies of la Rioja, are Spanish organisations of the Consortium.

Hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) is the material most used by the majority of companies dedicated to the metallic, specifically to chrome plating. One of the big disadvantages that presents this material is its carcinogenic potential. From the project Ecosam will develop a new process based on a technology of molecular auto-ensamblaje (SAM - self assembly methodology) through the use of nano-particles, which will make it possible to avoid the use of this material. This technique has already been developed on a scale of laboratory in Spain.

The main objectives of the project are:

• Develop a process of integrated chrome plating of plastic surfaces. This process will be low-cost and environmentally sustainable to eliminating the use of: chromic acid, Palladium catalysts and electrochemical deposits of nickel.
• Reduce the time and number of tanks (chrome plating and rinsing) necessary in the process (this implies a reduction in the consumption of water and waste).
• Offer flexibility in the type of plastic materials to use. The new chrome system can be applied to ABS, PP, PET and PVC.
• Increase the stability of the process compared to the classic chemical metallization process.
• Maintain the quality of the results.

The project will have 2 years of duration and with a budget of more than 1 million euros.