New ABS plating grades for automotive application

ELIX Polymers, a manufacturer of ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) resins is launching its latest ABS plating grades portfolio at the VDI “Plastics in Automotive Engineering” congress in Mannheim, Germany (March 9-10). 

 

The company's ELIX P2MC is considered by customers as the best in class in terms of its ability to adhere to metal; scrap rates of plated parts are reported to be lower than with any competing material after more than 15 years in production. ELIX Polymers is introducing an upgraded version of P2MC as well as new ABS grades to complete the plating portfolio. Target applications for these electroplating grades include radiator grilles, logos, profiles, tailgate handles, and decorative interior parts.

 

The past three years saw ELIX Polymers making important investments to strengthen its position in this select market. The result has been the development of innovative improvements in specific parts of polymer manufacturing to achieve the highest purity of ABS and a better surface quality in finished parts. Improvements to the rubber emulsion step and to SAN mass polymerization at the core of the manufacturing process for the ABS plating grade have led to an improved version of the P2MC material.

 

ELIX Polymers has also developed two more electroplating grades. A high heat version, of the flagship ABS grade, HH P2MC, together with a platable ABS/polycarbonate (ABS/PC) blend, Ultra HH4115PG, complete the company’s plating portfolio.  

 

All grades in the portfolio have special material formulations dedicated to electroplating process requirements, ensuring high quality for class A surfaces.  

 

 

The new HH P2MC grade has similar behavior to the original P2MC in terms of processability and properties, but its heat deflection temperature (HDT) is several degrees higher, at around 104°C (see diagram). In addition, the material has several other advantages over other platable high heat grades in the market, such as compliance with automotive low emission requirements.

 

For applications where even higher temperature resistance or impact strength is required, platable ABS/PC grades provide a solution. ELIX has therefore developed Ultra HH4115PG, an ABS modified with PC with very competitive advantages over PC-ABS grades (PC modified with ABS) in terms of processability, lightweighting and costs. Adherence of the metal phase is also one of its strong points.

 

With all these new developments, ELIX Polymers is now positioned as the only thermoplastic producer that can offer a complete portfolio of ABS and ABS/PC materials capable of being metallized by electroplating, suitable for all market needs.