Plating method for printed layer

A plating method includes: providing a work piece which is metal or non-metal; forming a printed layer on a predetermined region of a surface of the work piece through printing electrical conductive material on the predetermined region; forming a plated layer through plating the printed layer and the surface of the work piece.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a plating method for a printed layer, and more particularly to plating method forming a printed layer on a predetermined region of a surface of a work piece through printing electrical conductive material on the predetermined region and forming a plated layer through plating the printed layer and the surface of the work piece to prevent the printed layer from falling off.

Description of the Related Art

Plating is a common industrial process to beautify surfaces of a metal product. However, surfaces of plated metal products usually have monotonous metallic color, and thus they cannot satisfy aesthetical requirement. For aesthetical requirement or advertisement, some texts or figures are sometimes printed on the plated metal product. Therefore, a printing process is performed after the plating process.

In a conventional process, surfaces of metal work pieces are plated and a printed layer is afterwards formed on the plated surfaces through ink printing. The printed layer protrudes from the plated layer and is thus easily damaged or scratched off by a hard object or a foreign body.

In another conventional process, a printed layer is formed on surfaces of metal work pieces through ink printing before the metal work piece are plated. In such a process, the metal work piece may oxidize in the printing step before the plating step. Since the oxidation is not easily observed by eyes, is often causes a high defect rate. Even the oxidized product is processed by anti-oxidant, the printed layer still easily falls off during the plating process.

In addition to the drawbacks described above, products manufactured by the conventional process often have monotonous texts or figures.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a plating method to form a plating layer protecting a printed layer and preventing the printed layer from falling off.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plating method making the printed layer to have a special emboss effect different the print layer formed by the conventional plating method.

Another object of the invention is to form a protective layer which looks like a surface formed by diamond pieces. The protective layer can prevent the printed layer from falling off.

The invention provides a plating method for a printed layer. The plating method in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes: providing a work piece which is metal or non-metal; forming a printed layer on a predetermined region of a surface of the work piece through printing electrical conductive material on the predetermined region; forming a plated layer through plating the printed layer and the surface of the work piece. A metal plating layer is formed on the work piece to serve as a protective layer. Preferably, the protective layer is a semi-bright nickel plating layer so that the work piece has a smooth surface.

In another exemplary embodiment, the electrical conductive material is electrical conductive paint.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the electrical conductive material is fluorescent paint.

In another exemplary embodiment, the electrical conductive material is silver electrical conductive paint.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the electrical conductive material is copper electrical conductive paint.

In another exemplary embodiment, the electrical conductive material is nickel electrical conductive paint or electrical conductive carbon.

The plating method in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the invention includes: providing a work piece; forming a printed layer on a predetermined region of a surface of the work piece through printing a mixture of electrical conductive material and metal particles or electrical conductive particles on the predetermined region; forming a plated layer through plating the printed layer and the surface of the work piece.

In another exemplary embodiment, the plating method further includes: pre-immersing the printed layer to form a displacement layer on the printed layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a plating method of the invention includes the following steps: S1: providing a work piece10which is metal or non-metal; S2: forming a printed layer20on a predetermined region of a surface of the work piece10through printing electrical conductive material on the predetermined region; and S3: forming a plated layer30through plating the printed layer20and the surface of the work piece10.

The electrical conductive material is electrical conductive paint or fluorescent paint. The electrical conductive paint is silver electrical conductive paint including silver particles, copper electrical conductive paint including copper particles or nickel electrical conductive paint including nickel particles or electrical conductive carbon. The copper electrical conductive paint has a lower price than the silver electrical conductive paint. The nickel electrical conductive paint has a better electrical conductivity. The electrical conductive material is selected according to the texts or figures printed on the work piece.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, the printed layer20is formed on the predetermined region of a surface of the work piece10through printing electrical conductive material on the predetermined region. The plated layer30is formed through plating the printed layer20and the surface of the work piece10. The plated layer30is coated on the surface of the work piece10so as to protect the surface of the work piece10.

Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6, since the printed layer20is formed by printing electrical conductive material including metal particles on the work piece10, when the plated layer30is formed on the printed layer20and the surface of the work piece10, the plated surface31on the printed layer20is embossed and provides a matte effect. A metal plating layer is formed on the work piece10to serve as a protective layer101. Preferably, the protective layer101is a semi-bright nickel plating layer so that the work piece10has a smooth surface.

Referring toFIG. 7 or 8, another embodiment of a plating method of the invention includes the following steps: S10: providing a work piece100which is metal or non-metal; S20: forming a printed layer200on a predetermined region of a surface of the work piece100through printing a mixture of electrical conductive material201and metal particles202or other electrical conductive particles on the predetermined region; and S30: forming a plated layer300through plating the printed layer200and the surface of the work piece100.

Referring toFIGS. 9 and 10, since the printed layer200includes metal particles202mixed with the electrical conductive material201, the plated surface310has a decoration effect just like the work piece100embedded with diamond pieces. In this embodiment, a metal plating layer is formed on the work piece10to serve as a protective layer101. Preferably, the protective layer101is a semi-bright nickel plating layer so that the work piece10has a smooth surface.

Referring toFIGS. 11 and 12, another embodiment of a plating method of another embodiment of the invention includes the following steps step: S10: providing a work piece100which is metal or non-metal; S20: forming a printed layer200on a predetermined region of a surface of the work piece100through printing a mixture of electrical conductive material201and metal particles202on the predetermined region; S25: pre-immersing the printed layer200to form a displacement layer90on the printed layer200; and S30: forming a plated layer300through plating the printed layer200and the surface of the work piece100. The displacement layer90allows the plated layer300attached to the printed layer200more tightly and prevents the plated layer300from falling off.

The plating method of the invention has the following advantages: the printed layer is formed by printing electrically conductive material, which speeds the plating process; the plated layer30protects the printed layer20and prevents the printed layer20from being scratched by hard object; a matte and embossed effect is provided by the printed layer20; the printed layer and the plated layer are tightly attached to the work piece and has a shining effect like embedded with diamond pieces.