Patent ID: 8133375
Filing Date: 2012-03-13
Classification: C25D

Abstract:
1. A method of surface printing and electric plating consisting of the steps of: a) selecting an article made of a metallic material; b) pre-plating to form a metallic pre-plated layer directly on a surface of the metallic material without oxidizing the surface of the article and without requiring acid erosion; c) printing an oil ink directly on a first preselected portion of the metallic pre-plated layer to form a printed layer on the first preselected portion of the metallic pre-plated layer, the oil ink being a non electric conductive oil ink, the metallic pre-plated layer is located directly between the metallic material and the oil ink; and d) electrically plating a metal directly on a second preselected portion of the metallic pre-plated layer to form an electric plated layer, the second preselected portion of the metallic pre-plated layer being located adjacent to the first preselected portion of the metallic pre-plated layer, the metal of the electric plated layer being located adjacent to the printed layer and the metal of the electric plated layer having a thickness greater than a thickness of the printed layer; wherein, in the pre-plating step b), the material of the metallic pre-plated layer is selected from a group consisting of nickel, half glossy nickel, and copper.