It's said that experts see the intricacies while laymen see the excitement, and this is absolutely true. Before I started working in the plastic injection molding industry, my concept of plastics was limited to simple, ordinary items like appliance casings and plastic water bottles. It wasn't until I joined Shibang Injection Mold Factory last year that I realized that many products with metal exteriors are actually not made of metal, but rather are made of metal-replacing plastic electroplated products. For example, the electroplated plastic eyeshadow palette pictured below has a beautiful, elegant appearance and is also corrosion-resistant and acid-resistant, making it lightweight. Let's discuss the advantages of electroplating cosmetic packaging materials for plastic products.
Let's understand what electroplating is and how it works. There are two main types of electroplating for plastic products: water electroplating and vacuum ion plating. Because plastic is a non-conductor, electroplating requires a conductive layer on the surface of the plastic part. Electroplating-grade ABS/PC are commonly used materials for electroplating. ABS undergoes a chemical reaction, creating tiny pits on its surface, allowing the metal layer to adhere to the product surface.
I. Advantages of Electroplating for Plastic Products
1. Plastic products can be coated with various metals depending on the intended use, imparting new properties to the plastic. Typical plastic coatings are for corrosion and acid resistance, meeting the product's intended use.
2. Electroplating provides a highly decorative effect. In addition to cosmetic packaging, many automobiles also feature numerous interior plastic parts for decorative purposes, often using electroplating. This not only enhances aesthetics but also improves wear resistance and cleanability.
II. Structural Requirements for Electroplating Products
Plastic products typically require simple, medium- to small-sized structures and are clamped directly using a runner. The clamping area is 0.5 times the length of the main runner. Because the product's surface is plated, leaving no marks is strictly prohibited. Therefore, the glue is typically applied from the bottom using a slider or tilted top feed. Columns are also provided to facilitate stacking, as shown in the figure for my electroplated product.
During melt filling, weld marks are formed by the merging of two or more melt streams. These marks can only be minimized or reshaped to conceal them in an inconspicuous location. Therefore, the higher the melt flow temperature and the greater the angle of intersection, the stronger the weld line will be.
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Plastic product electroplating for cosmetic packaging has many advantages. In addition to the advantages mentioned above, there are several key points to note:
1. Surface Finish
Plastic product electroplating requires high mold surface precision. The surface must be free of scratches, weld marks, or trachoma. The product surface must be glossy and the mold surface must be wear-resistant. If the mold surface is not smooth during production, it must be polished immediately; otherwise, the electroplating effect will be affected.
2. Oil Contamination
Oil contamination on the product during electroplating can impair adhesion. Before electroplating, electroplating manufacturers use pre-treatment degreasing processes such as alcohol wiping, white spirit cleaning, and soaking cleaning. However, it is difficult to guarantee a completely oil-free product. Therefore, it is particularly important to avoid the use of mold release agents and avoid oil contamination in the mold during production.
3. Packaging
Cosmetic injection molded and electroplated products are individually packaged during production to prevent scratches and potential hazards in subsequent processing. After electroplating, plastic parts are practically finished products. After passing inspection at the molding factory, they are directly boxed and shipped.
HUIWEN Plastic Mold Manufacturer boasts an experienced design team, its own mold room, and a comprehensive range of injection mold manufacturing equipment, including two CNC machines, two mirror spark machines, various wire-cutting equipment, and 2D and 3D testing equipment. It also houses a mold assembly and mold reduction department. We also possess various high-speed injection molding machines, as well as processing, electroplating, hot stamping, silk-screen printing, and spray painting equipment. We strive to provide customers with one-stop customized plastic product services.
