Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


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WET PAINT ON CHROME-PLATED ABS PARTS

We are manufacturer of plastic products with own plating and wet painting job shops. We found adhesion problem when we applied (air-electrostatic method) PU 2-components clear coatings over chrome-plated ABS plastic parts. Parts had been etched in mild acidic media & then thorough rinsed prior coating. I'd appreciate any suggestion for surface prep to increase the paintability of the plated parts. Is there any commercial surface prep process available? Regards

Fred Yeung
captive metal finishing shop - Hong Kong
1999

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That's a difficult one, Mr. Yeung. It is well known that paint (and most finishes) adhere poorly to chrome plating unless one is quite careful about the wetting issue. See "Studies of Paint Adhesion on Chromium Surfaces" by K.H. Hasmanis, Metal Finishing Nov. 76.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

Thanks Ted! Tho' I'm a subscriber of Metal Finishing, it's difficult for me to locate such an old issue. How can I get a copy of Nov. 76 issue or the captioned article? Please help. Thanks!

Fred Yeung
- Hong Kong
1999

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Metal Finishing magazine has some old issues for sale, although I don't know if they have this one.

If it is not available from Metal Finishing, there are lit search firms that allow you to order or print out copies of old articles in their database--which I am confident would include this article. Many of the large corporations have arrangements with these firms, and I'd also bet that your public library can get you this article in that way, although it can be quite expensive.

We have the article here, but unfortunately we have not had enough demand for reprints to be able to negotiate photocopy rights with firms of Elsevier's size yet.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey