Patent DE-102012219995-A1 (DE)
Title: Producing metallized two-component plastic part comprises forming electroplatable plastic blank, performing chemical or physical deposition of electrically conductive metal layer on electroplatable area, and structuring first metal layer
Inventor: BROCKMANN CARSTEN DR
IPC: B44C1/22
Filed: 2012-10-31
Abstract: The method comprises forming an electroplatable plastic blank comprising a first region (11) of a first plastic material and a second region (12) of a second plastic material that are partially adjacent to each other in a surface of the blank, performing chemical or physical deposition of a first electrically conductive metal layer (13) on an electroplatable area of the plastic blank, patterning the first metal layer by partially removal to form an elongate line-like structure (14), electro-depositing a second metal layer on the patterned first metal layer, and structuring the metal layer. The method comprises forming an electroplatable plastic blank comprising a first region (11) of a first plastic material and a second region (12) of a second plastic material that are partially adjacent to each other in a surface of the blank, performing chemical or physical deposition of a first electrically conductive metal layer (13) on an electroplatable area of the plastic blank, patterning the first metal layer by partially removal to form an elongate line-like structure (14), electro-depositing a second metal layer on the patterned first metal layer, and structuring the metal layer by laser ablation using a pulsed laser of a laser unit (20). The plastic blank and a part of the laser unit are moved relative to one another along a path corresponding to extension of the elongate line-like structure. The first plastic material of the first region is a transparent or translucent plastic, which forms the electroplateable area by pre-treatment step, and the second plastic material of the second region is transparent or translucent plastic, which does not form the electroplateable area. The part of the laser unit is fixed, while the plastic blank is moved against that part of the laser unit, or the plastic blank is fixed, while the part of the laser unit is moved against the plastic blank. The laser unit comprises a scanning head and a laser source moved together. The movement of the blank and laser unit is carried out in a period in which the laser unit produces a part of the line-like structure. The chemical deposition step includes applying a layer of palladium nuclei on the electroplatable area. A surface of the first plastic material is converted by pre-treatment steps including staining, roughening and/or swelling in a surface that is electroplated by the palladium nuclei, while a surface of the second plastic material is subjected to the pre-treatment steps, by which the surface is not changed at the same time in a surface which is electroplated. The palladium nuclei are provided with a tin protective colloid layer. The plastic blank is produced by an injection molding process. The first plastic is injected into a cascade injection molding process. The laser includes neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet, carbon dioxide laser or UV laser. Independent claims are included for: (1) a partially metallized two-component plastic part; (2) an apparatus for producing a rear-illuminable elongate line-like structure; and (3) a method of producing an elongate plastic blank.