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Bright Copper plating or coating over Nylon substrate

I am looking to do or have someone do Bright Copper plating or coating over Nylon injection molded parts. Can anyone tell me how to do this in volume or recommend the types of processes and/or companies that would do this at a reasonable price? The parts would then need to be coated with something to protect them for exterior applications.

Ted Livernois
Product Designer - Traverse City, Michigan, USA
December 10, 2010

December 10, 2010

Hi.

Plain nylon is a poor substrate for plating on plastic like due to poor adhesion. But plating-grade mineral-filled Nylons such as Capron, Vydyne, and Minlon can be selectively etched to provide adhesion (according to Standards and Guidelines for Electroplated Plastic) . But electroplating of plastic is a complicated process of many steps and may not be inexpensive enough for your needs. You may wish to find a copper colored paint.

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

Hello Ted. We copper, nickel and chrome nylon all the time.
We have one line dedicated to coppering nylon at our Warren MI, facility. It is Plating Technologies Inc. Thank you for using finishing.com!

Rob Coffie
Warren, Michigan, USA
December 20, 2010

All nylons or just most?
Remember folks that these folks are highly experienced at this. Beginners will very likely not have a same level of success.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
December 23, 2010

adv.
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