Subject:
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Re: Bulk brick sales and Making Silver Bricks
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.general
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Date:
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Tue, 25 May 1999 03:40:14 GMT
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Reply-To:
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cmasi@cmasi.chem.tulane.ANTISPAMedu
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Viewed:
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687 times
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I beleive chrome plating is electroplating. Dissolved chromium ions are reduced
to metallic chrome on an electrode. Do they use the plastic as the electorde
and get chromium to plate on the plastic...I do not know I have not looked into
it; I am just spouting off about basic chemistry. Making electroplated metal
shiney is not easy from a do it at home point of view (and an industrial point
of view).
Vacuum Metalizing sounds like they are doing vapor depostition. Gaseous metal
atoms are deposited on a surface (this is the reverse of sublimation), and this
does not mean that the metal has to be hot. Metals can be coaxed into the vapor
phase at low pressures and reasonable low temperatures.
Chris
PS. I wounder how big they think the parts are. If they could do several LEGO
parts at one time I imagine the cost would go down quickly. They may think you
are talking about rather large pieces of plastic...mmmm...a chrome stream
liner.
R2 wrote:
> > On a side note, I am currently investigating chroming plastic. Most places
> > can only chrome metal, as they dip metal into very hot liquid chrome. Not • too
> > good for ABS plastic. My search has yielded 2 companies that can do it. • The
> > procedure is called Vacuum Metalizing and there is is one in Los Angeles • and
> > another in Taiwan. Their main job is dealing with automotive and • motorcycle
> > parts. I am sending samples to the one in LA. Unfortunately, I was quoted
> > approximately $4 per brick, so this is not really the way to go, but if you
> > are crazy and desperate enough... This will at least let us know if we can
> > coat our bricks and still have them work as LEGO or if the coating changes • the
> > dimensions too much.
> >
> > It takes 14 days to do and I still have to ship out the sample. I think • that
> > by the time they come back, I will be on my honeymoon, so I will know when • I
> > get back (end of June). Whatever the results, I will post them here.
> >
> > Mike
>
> Mike:
>
> They have been chroming plastic on automobiles for more than 25 years!
> Chroming does not always mean "hot" liquid: It is a process where an item is
> given a charge (I believe a + one), and the liquid catalyst is given an
> opposite charge ( a - one?). The places to look for this type of plating
> would be found in Hemming's Motor News, Cars and Parts, etc. My '70 SS Nova
> has had many plastic plated parts re-plated by companies found in Hemming's.
>
> Good luck! Just be sure of the thickness of the plating. This may interfere
> with the fit of the Lego bricks!
>
> Eric
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Bulk brick sales and Making Silver Bricks
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| (...) too (...) The (...) and (...) motorcycle (...) the (...) that (...) I (...) Mike: They have been chroming plastic on automobiles for more than 25 years! Chroming does not always mean "hot" liquid: It is a process where an item is given a (...) (25 years ago, 27-May-99, to lugnet.general)
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