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Content archived on 2024-04-30

Activation of polymer surfaces for the production of metal coated composites

Objective



The project addresses an urgent need for the development of new technology to manufacture metalcoated polymer composite materials for use in decorative (e.g. building, automobile and aircraft industries) and electronics applications (e.g. computers, mobile communications). The project aims to develop technology for the activation of polymer surfaces based upon electrochemically generated etchants to: . Provide new opportunities for increasing the range of industrial applications by achieving greater control of the surface chemistry and producing new polymer surface finishing effects . Replace current hazardous technology, based upon toxic chromic acid, which is limiting new developments within the Proposers' Group In the new proposed approach, the active reagents are continuously regenerated in the etchant solution. The consumption of expensive chemical reagents is very substantially reduced with an equivalent marked decrease in the quantity of waste. The concentration of the active species can be precisely controlled with accurate regulation of the surface oxidation to avoid over treatment and produce definite surface effects. The project is structured to progress from small laboratory scale studies to test-bed operation under industrial conditions using an integrated prototype system. As a result of the potential versatility of this new approach, a greatly increased range of polymers would be amenable to treatment. The majority of the Proposers are currently active in coating polymers with metals using the existing hazardous methods and are urgently seeking new, cleaner technology to provide the opportunity to expand their production activities. A brief feasibility study has been carried out which has successfully demonstrated the considerable potential of this new approach. This project was initiated and funded by one of the Group of SME Proposers. Excellent surface treatment effects were found for a range of polymers, offering possibilities for coating of a larger range of plastics, more effective process control, entirely new surface effects and the elimination of the highly toxic reagent which is used currently.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Call for proposal

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Funding Scheme

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CRS - Cooperative research contracts

Coordinator

Process Equipment Ltd
EU contribution
No data
Address
Sheep street 88
OX6 7LP Oxon
United Kingdom

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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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Participants (10)

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