SABIC Innovative Plastics Chrome Plating Materials for Automotive OEMs

SABIC Innovative Plastics introduces its latest portfolio of breakthrough materials that have been optimized for chrome plating for Automotive OEMs.

One of the hottest trends in automotive design is the resurgence of chrome in trim, door handles, and other decorative touches to impart a high-end, luxury look. SABIC Innovative Plastics new portfolio of breakthrough materials have been optimized for automotive chrome plating parts. These specialized plastics grades of Cycoloy* and Cycolac* resins, featuring extremely low stress and superior adhesion to the metal layer, are aimed at helping automakers easily incorporate jewel-bright chrome details into their designs. SABIC Innovative Plastics has a long history of working side-by-side with leading automotive OEMs and suppliers to help them achieve competitive differentiation through new design options.

Special grades of Cycoloy polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (PC/ABS) resin and Cycolac ABS resin have been optimized by SABIC Innovative Plastics experts for both the injection molding and plating processes to deliver high quality and high yields. This is especially important due to the relatively high cost of chrome plating. In addition, the use of plated plastic components vs. all-metal parts avoids the expense of secondary operations including milling and polishing. Lightweight plastics also help with weight-out for improved fuel economy. Finally, plastics offer greater design flexibility than traditional metal.

Shown in photo: Sample Display Panels with and without Chrome Plating, Made with Cycoloy* Resin and Xylex* resin, Shown Unplated in All Three Samples
Left: Front of Display Panel without Chrome Plating
Middle: Front of Display Panel with Chrome Plating
Right: Back of Display Panel with Chrome Plating

A recent development in chrome plating is the use of two materials in one component where only one material is plated. SABIC Innovative Plastics is offering a unique combination of materials that is extremely selective in plating. When Xylex* X7509 or X8409 resin grades are combined with the special Cycoloy and Cycolac resin grades and chrome plated, the Xylex resin will remain completely free from plating. This potentially offers unique cost savings and design freedom for a range of applications including chrome-plated day and night designs, partially plated logos, buttons, and other trim components.

“The use of a chrome effect is a great way to give passenger vehicles a more upscale look, and the best approach today is the use of metallized plastic – for simplicity, weight savings, and design freedom,” said Dirk Noordegraaf, operations manager, Application Technology, SABIC Innovative Plastics. “To help the auto industry leverage the popularity of chrome effects with optimal results, SABIC Innovative Plastics is working with local customers to develop materials that deliver the elegance of chrome effects without all the challenges. With our Cycoloy and Cycolac resins, designers are able to provide the fashionable details consumers are clamoring for.”

Chrome plating is not only a fairly costly process, but can also be unforgiving in terms of quality. Because plated automotive parts that are designed to grab attention come in high-gloss and high-reflective finishes, even the slightest defects can create a negative impression of the entire vehicle. SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Cycoloy CP8930 (high heat), Cycoloy CP8320 and MC1300 (medium heat) resins, and Cycolac MG37EP resin, can help platers minimize rejects and reduce system costs through higher yields. These materials provide easier molding than similar heat-resistant resins; feature a special impact modifier that ensures consistent adhesion of the chrome layer; and are formulated for extremely low stress to ensure uniform plating behavior.

These SABIC Innovative Plastics materials are excellent candidates for chrome-plated applications such as exterior trim, interior trim, running boards, wheel covers, roof racks, and mirror housings that require stiffness, impact strength, and processability.

The use of two materials in one component where only one material is plated is a recent development in chrome plating. SABIC Innovative Plastics is offering a unique combination of materials that is extremely selective in plating. When Xylex* X7509 or X8409 resin grades are combined with the special Cycoloy and Cycolac resin grades and chrome plated, the Xylex resin will remain completely free from plating. This can offer unique cost savings and design freedom for a range of applications including chrome-plated day and night designs, partially plated logos, buttons, and other trim components.

Xylex* resin grades are available in transparent, colored transparent, and opaque colors including the latest automotive trend, Piano Black. All pass the chrome-plating process without discoloration or gloss reduction.

In addition to specialized materials, SABIC Innovative Plastics has an experienced technical services team across the globe to support customers with a range of challenges, from tool design to processing to plating.

For more information on SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Cycoloy and Cycolac resins for chrome plating, please visit the company’s website.

The dedicated automotive organization is an experienced, worldwide supplier, offering leading plastics solutions for five key automotive segments: body panels and glazing; under the hood applications; component; structures and interiors; and lighting.

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