Ecosam

The development of a novel hexavalent chrome free environmentally sustainable pre-treatment for plastic surfaces using molecular self-assembly nano-technology.

The main objective of the proposed project is to develop a novel surface pre-treatment method for chrome plating on a broad range of plastics. The majority of the electroplating industry worldwide uses a hexavalent chrome based pre-treatment. Its major disadvantage is that hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is carcinogenic. Therefore, the chrome-plating industry is coming under increasing pressure from EU environmental & health & safety legislation, & many companies are facing a bleak future unless sustainable & cost effective solutions can be discovered.

The project aims to develop a new process, based on a molecular self-assembly technology (SAM) developed at laboratory level in Spain, for the manufacture of organic sensors that eliminates the need for chemical etching & electroless nickel plating, & that provides a stable & secure surface suitable for subsequent chrome-plating operations.

In line with the general objectives of the EU & FP6, this will achieve the following specific objectives:

• Eliminate carcinogenic chromic acid from the pre-treatment process
• Decrease processing time & the number of plating/rinsing tanks
• Offer greater product flexibility, as the process will not be limited to a single polymer such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS).
• Reduce waste water & chemicals due to fewer process steps
• Reduce the cost of the plating process due to elimination of the expensive palladium catalyst & electroless nickel coating operations
• Increase process stability compared to classical wet chemical metallisation.
• Maintain the performance whilst lowering the cost of the chrome-plating process.

The anticipated outcome of the project will be an optimised process for electroplating on plastic materials that is both more economical & environmentally-friendly compared to the conventional plating process.

Start date: 01/10/2006
Completion date: 30/09/2008

For more information, please visit - www.ecosam.eu

Participants

		Avanzare SL