GALVANICALLY DECORATED COMPONENT MADE OF PLASTIC, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PLASTIC COMPONENT HAVING A STRUCTURED SURFACE

Abstract

A galvanically decorated component made of plastic has a galvanically applied chrome layer, wherein the chrome layer is processed with a laser in such a way that a mechanically applied brush structure or structure is reproduced on the surface. The component decorated in this way satisfies all requirements in accordance with the respective test specifications of the planned area of application. A method produces a plastic component having a structured surface. Components of this type made of plastic for the automotive industry are substantially decorative and operative elements.

Claims

1. A galvanically decorated component made of plastic, having a layered structure and a texture or brushed texture introduced into the surface of the chrome layer on the visible side, wherein the texture or brushed texture replicates a brushed texture or texture in the surface on the visible side after galvanic deposition.

2. The component according to claim 1, wherein the layer thickness of the final chrome layer amounts to 0.6 m to 1.2 m.

3. The component according to claim 1, wherein the layer thickness of the final chrome layer is higher by 0.1 m to 0.8 m than the texture or brushed texture introduced into the surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

[0024] In the drawings,

[0025] FIG. 1 shows the schematic representation of a galvanized component made of plastic, in the form of a button.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] The coated component 1 shows a product produced from plastic for the automotive industrya buttonwith subsequent galvanization. The plastic is a galvanizable plastic 5, for example ABS plastics (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymerizates) as well as mixtures with polycarbonate(s). After completion of the galvanic coating process, the component 1 has a layered structure 2 as required by the demands of the respective area of use. The layer thickness of the final chrome layer 3 amounts to approximately 1.0 m to 1.2 m. It is consequently higher by 0.1 m to 0.8 m, preferably by 0.2 m to 0.5 m than the topography region of a texture or brushed texture that was derived from a reference component that is provided with a conventional brushed texture or texture. The reference component is generally a metal component having a brushed surface. The component, subsequently processed by means of laser ablation and displacement 4a or mechanical brushing 4b, finally has a texture on the visible side of the surface, which texture corresponds to a brushed metal surface.

[0027] In the method for the production of a plastic component having a textured surface, preferably a reference surface is recorded at first. Generally, the reference surface is a brushed or textured surface of a metal component. Recording of the surface preferably takes place by means of optical scanning, for example using a laser. In this regard, a point of light is produced, which is moved over the reference surface. The light is reflected by the surface and the reflection is recorded. Because of the different heights and depths of the textured surface, different wavelengths occur during reflection, and these are measured, digitalized, and stored in memory.

[0028] Alternatively, recording of the reference surface can take place by means of scanning using a mechanical sensing device. For this purpose, a very thin and sensitive sensing device is moved over the surface and measures the heights and depths of the textured surface. The measurement results are digitalized and stored in memory.

[0029] The topography of the reference surface determined in this manner is converted into a processed 3D data set. An STL data set (stereolithography), for example, can be produced as a processed data set. In this data set, the recorded surfaces composed of assembled triangles are described. Other 3D data set formats can also be used.

[0030] Furthermore, the possibility also exists of producing the data set by means of programming technology. In this regard, a freely selectable surface texture is programmed and also stored in memory as a 3D data set format. In this regard, the surface texture can agree with a brushed or textured surface of a metal component. However, the possibility also exists of programming different surface textures.

[0031] The data set that has been created is then processed in such a manner that the uppermost peaks and lowermost depths are filtered out. In this way, the result is achieved that extreme values within the topography of the reference surface, which were caused, for example, by means of bristles or grinding elements of the brush or grinding device used for brushing the reference surface being torn out, are masked out. In this way, a data set is obtained for the topography, the peaks and depths of which then range in a range between 0.2 to 1.4 m, preferably in a range between 0.5 m to 0.9 m.

[0032] The component 1, which is supposed to have a surface that looks similar to a brushed surface on its visible side after completion of the method, is injection-molded in known manner from plastic. Subsequently, the component 1 to be processed is galvanized, with a layered structure that meets the requirements demanded by the respective area of use being produced. After galvanization, the component 1 has a chrome layer thickness that is greater than the total topography range of the recorded and processed texture or brushed texture of the reference surface after processing of the data set, in other words after elimination of the extreme values. Preferably, the layer thickness of the final chrome layer is greater by 0.1 m to 0.8 m, preferably by 0.2 m to 0.5 m, than the height of the topography range of the reference surface after processing of the data set.

[0033] Afterward, the chrome surface of the component 1 is worked using a combusting and displacing laser beam, in accordance with the processed data set of the brushed texture or texture. In this regard, the chrome surface is partially combusted and displaced by the laser. Combustion takes place in the center of the laser beam. Around the center of the laser beam, in other words in the edge region of ablation, no combustion takes place; instead, displacement of the chrome layer takes place, causing warping. Combustion takes place as a function of the topography of the reference surface stored in the processed data set without the eliminated extreme values, with the depths being created by greater combustion and a longer working time, and heights by lesser and shorter combustion of the chrome surface. During working of the surface, it is decisively important to pay attention to not allowing combustion and displacement to reach to a depth that is deeper than the thickness of the chrome layer. This must be avoided, since otherwise the laser could destroy the corrosion mechanism of the chrome component and expose nickel layers.

[0034] Fundamentally, the brushed texture or texture can also be introduced into the chrome-plated component 1 mechanically. For this purpose, it is practical if the mechanical working of the component 1 is provided at a very much later coating time point in galvanic deposition. It is advantageous if the brushed texture or the texture is introduced after the semi-gloss nickel layer, the high-gloss nickel layer, as well as the corrosion-controlling cracked or porous nickel layer. Introduction after the high-gloss nickel layer has proven to be the preferred time point in this regard. However, for this purpose the components have to be removed from the galvanization process, mechanically worked, and returned to the galvanization process again for final further coating up to chrome. Mechanical working of the chrome layer is also possible, but then the general overall impression is generally one of lesser quality. However, a problem with mechanical production of the desired texture on the component 1 is the fact that the space in which the mechanical working is to take place must be separate from the spaces of galvanization in dust-proof manner, in order to prevent contamination of the galvanization with the dust resulting from mechanical working of the component. However, this is usually connected with high costs.

[0035] A significant advantage of designing the galvanically decorated plastic component according to the invention, having a texture or brushed texture introduced into the surface by means of laser processing, is representation of the brushed regions by means of computer-assisted design. Using the method according to the invention, for the first time a precise replica of a brushed texture can be achieved over a plurality of different components. Furthermore, the textured or brushed regions can be precisely defined. Therefore brushed regions and high-gloss regions directly next to one another on the surface of the component are possible; this is not possible using the conventional technology of mechanical brushing.

[0036] Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.