Thin Film Metallization and Protective Top-Coat Development

This research involved an investigation to find an alternative technology to chrome plating. The proposed system used a plastics substrate, a metalized layer, and a protective top-coat. The interfaces between the layers are the challenges and thus various experiments are conducted to examine the different possibilities for each layer and find the most suitable combination for the system meeting the appearance and functional requirements. Various studies, using different techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and profilometery have been presented to examine different failure modes and identify the root cause of the failures. This analysis was used to improve the system in the subsequent iterations. Two systems were developed. System "A" consists of polycarbonate, a stainless steel metalized layer, and a silicone based top-coat. System "B" consists of polycarbonate, a stainless steel metalized layer, an aluminum metalized layer and a silicone based top-coat.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.Sc.

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical, Automotive, and Materials Engineering

Grantor

University of Windsor

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Bekou, Jack

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Northwood, Derek (Mechanical, Automotive, and Materials Engineering)

Licence

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_CA

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14776/1323

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwindsor.scholaris.ca:20.500.14776/1323