Gold Plated ABS Overmolding: Serious Blistering Fix

Summary for gold plated abs overmolding Discussion

Gold plated ABS overmolding is causing discoloration and blistering, and Lesley Mazey asked for ideas after seeing the gold bubble and change color when the plated ABS parts were molded into another ABS application. In response, the answerer said the job sounds difficult and asked for more detail on the temperatures the substrate and plating see during overmolding. He also clarified that “gold plated” likely means a conventional decorative plating-on-plastics stack with nickel and a flash of gold, and suggested checking whether a copper layer is included. He noted that automotive manufacturers sometimes use copper under nickel to help manage thermal stresses from outdoor exposure, implying that heat and stress during overmolding may be contributing to the failure. The thread does not give a final fix, but points toward evaluating the plating stack and the thermal load of the molding process.