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How to clean ABS plastic parts before plating process

2003

We are looking a good way to clean ABS plastics molded parts before we begin pre-plating process. Could anyone give us some advice ?

Thanks,

Irwan Nusantara
- Jakarta, Indonesia

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2003

Hi Irwan,

When one 'cements' plastic piping, it is vital to have clean surfaces ... and that is done normally with the same solvent that is used for that particular plastic.

In your case it's MEK / methyl ethyl ketone ... but in Ye Olden Days of plastics, a cleaner could be any aromatic or polar solvent.

Because these solvents will love to ATTACK your ABS parts, I'd opt for an alcohol type solvent instead so that the parts don't glue themselves together ! Mind you, I'm not too sure about that liquid, you'd have to run a test or two. And if that doesn't work too well, at least it's perhaps drinkable!

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).

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Why do you want to clean them? Are they dirty or have you got adhesion problems when you metallise them? If they are dirty, you need a suitable solvent for the contamination; if you use one that starts to dissolve the ABS, you will lose dimensional stability and accuracy. If you have adhesion problems, then we need to know a lot more technical detail about your process.

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2003