Improved Coating Adhesion on Polymers with Novel Laser Machining Pre-Treatment

Abstract:

Electroplating on polymer substrates, which provides polymers with enhanced mechanical properties, extended component lifetimes, and offers a decorative appearance, is environmentally unsustainable. Laser machining, a green process developed at Cirrus Materials Science Ltd, generates an array of pores on various polymer surfaces, which replaces the chemical etch process, and provides strong adhesion for metal coatings to polymer substrates. Laser machining is also applicable to a wide range of engineered or industrial polymer substrates and is adaptable to complex shapes and 3D printed parts. This paper discussed the process of laser machining of polymer substrates including the properties of metal layers on such machined surfaces; and demonstrated laser machining as a promising substitute for conventional chemical etching to prepare various engineering polymer substrates for adhesive coatings.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 894)
• Pages: 51-57
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.894.51
• Online since: July 2021
• Authors: Zhen Di Yang*, Chris Goode
• Keywords: Laser Machining, Plating, Polymer

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