Tensile Strength, Ductility and Impact Strength of Plated ABS and Polypropylene

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Abstract
Tensile strength, ductility and impact strength of four grades of ABS and three grades of polypropylene were evaluated when plated with various copper+nickel+chromium coatings. Tests were also carried out at the following intermediate stages in the processing sequences:- (i) as moulded, (ii) after etching, (iii) after electroless nickel deposition, (iv) after copper plating, (v) after nickel plating. The application of electrodeposited coatings resulted in a fall in ductility and impact strength but the UTS depended on the particular coating deposited. Mechanisms responsible for the failure of plated plastics are discussed; the dominant phenomenon is considered to be the notch sensitivity of the plastics. A theoretical model was developed to illustrate how a load on a tensile specimen would be distributed between the substrate and copper coatings of varying thickness. A figure was also constructed to show changes in the distribution of the load between substrate and coating with variation in the ratio of Young's moduli of plastics and copper at a particular coating thickness.

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