Electroplating with Glass

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

I searched the google but I found electroplating glass with metal lists. But I want to electroplate acrylic sculptures with glass or crystal.
Is it possible ? ,

Umut

 

[wildbillbugman]

Hello Umut,
I have never heared of electroplating anything WITH glass. I do not think it possible, because glass is not conductive. If it was, printed circuit boards on epoxy-glass laminate would not be possible.
Bill

 

[Bob-D659]

You could possibly vacuum deposit it, it's done with quartz to protect front surfaced mirrors.

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Bill ,

I think there are conductive glasses used at electronics. If I can find conductive glass , Would it be possible to electroplate with glass on
plastic ?

Bob ,

Vacuum deposit requires heat again . I want cold process technology.

Anyone knows conductive glasses ?

Umut

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

I think conductive glass is plated with tin indium glass. I think there is no conductive glass thing.

 

[wildbillbugman]

Mustafa,
I know that there are glass micro-baloons, that are coated with conductive metals. These are used in screen printing inks to create conducrive circuits. However, The reflectivity (light) is high.
I think that you are looking for transparency.

 

[wildbillbugman]

Mustafa,
I find your imagination to be inspiring. Don't ever become a Wisened Cynic. I did a bit of research this A.M. You might want to search " Conductive Screen Inks"; Conductive Glass Bubbles"; "Conductive Glass Fibers". This is a long-shot. But researching these topics might give you some ideas.
Bill

 

[lxdude]

glass is not conductive.
Bill

That much is clear.

 

[lxdude]

I searched the google but I found electroplating glass with metal lists. But I want to electroplate acrylic sculptures with glass or crystal.
Is it possible ? ,

Umut

I think a big problem if you could do it would be the difference in rates of expansion would quickly lead to cracks and separation. The micro-balloons might work well, but with a loss of transparency.

 

[wildbillbugman]

Mustafa,
Pehaps the most expedient way to accompish what you are trying is to scrap the acrylic sculpting. Learn glass sculpting. There are many books and classes and workshops on this subject and many people do it.
Bill

 

[lxdude]

I concur with Bill.

 

[Leigh B]

Hi Umut,

No, you can't electroplate glass onto something else, like a coating.

There's a company here in the US that carries a wide range of plating supplies specifically for hobby and small business use. While you might not buy anything from them, a search of their website might give you some ideas. Caswell Plating http://www.caswellplating.com

Good luck with the project.

- Leigh

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Thank you all for wonderful suggestions. As Leigh pointed out , this webpage is wonderful. It is possible to mix powders with below listed liquid chemical
and apply on to plastics and process with heat gun.

This thread could be enlarged in to below thread also , there photo ceramic processes described.

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

and also this thread connected to
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)



Turn Powder Coating Into a Sprayable Liquid with Liquid-Powder

Powder coating is a popular method of protecting and enhancing the appearance of a part. It is a very "Green" technology and the use of this technology is expanding. However there are some applications where the use of Powder Coating is difficult if not impossible. It has a fair bond to metallic substrates, though the powder is easily damaged prior to baking. Powder Coating of non metallic surfaces is extremely difficult. In addition complex shapes, deep depressions, voids or holes cannot be evenly coated. Generally it is also not possible to multi coat using traditional Powder Coating methods.

This situation has been dramatically changed with the introduction of the Liqui-Powder technology by Tech Line. Now virtually any powder can be mixed in to the Liquid-Powder carrier and sprayed as conventional water based paint. The type of substrate is not an issue, multi coats, special effects, and a host of other custom treatments become available with the use of Liqudi-Powder.

It is even possible to coat substrates that cannot handle the normal cure temperature, but can handle the very low melt temperatures of most powders. Then rather than fully curing, the coating can be protected with a final coat of Cilgen LTC™. Superior chemical and corrosion protection to standard Powder Coated parts is the result.

Mix 48% Liquid-Powder with 52% powder coating by weight. (ie 14.7oz Liquid-Powder to 16oz powder coating). Spray with an HVLP gun or airbrush with a nozzle 2mm or larger, at 60PSI.

One quart of Liquid-Powder will make up approx 1.5 quarts of sprayable liquid.

Liquid-Powder can be used to touch-up areas on a part that has been powder coated (by electrostatic or other method), but has an area that was missed or was damaged in handling:

Repair of a damaged part can be accomplished by using a small touchup brush, toothpick, paperclip, etc… dipped into the Liquid-Powder and lightly applied to the damaged area, allow to dry then bake.
This process can be used to fill small holes in parts as well. If the part has been fully cured a light sanding of the damaged area is recommended to give the repair a surface to hang on to.

 

[papatorve]

There is silver nanowire tech coming for the replacement of ending indium resource google this;

24.02.2011?|?James Mitchell Crow?|?New Scientist