META-COAT

META-COAT is a Nickel-Phosphorous layer on plastic base components in order to improve temperature resistance, wear resistance, chemical resistance and solderability. Because of the application process of the metal coating, the composition can be varied. The final properties also depend on the original base material.

META-COAT layers are produced on plastics by means of a pre-treatment, tailored to the base material and geometry of the component. The pre-treatment is largely based on a mechanical micro-structuring, a chemical or physical alteration of the surface or combinations of these pre-treatments.
After activation of the surface, metals like copper, nickel, silver, tin or gold are deposited by a chemical (electroless) or electrolytic process. With electrolytic processes, certain restrictions regarding complex shaped parts (undercuts, blind holes, grooves) have to be considered.

The temperature resistance depends on the type of selected base material and the coating. For example, a coating system consisting of 5 μm copper and 3 μm tin on PEEK or PPS can withstand a short-term temperature load of up to 330 °C as e.g. during a soldering process.

With the META-COAT process the wear resistance of plastics can be considerably improved. The layer can, for example, protect polyamide against chemicals like chloroform, methylene chloride, formic acid, phenols and cresol.
Solderability is improved by adding a silver layer.