Title : Advanced trivalent chromium electroplating on ABL, PLA and carbon fiber reinforced biodegradable polymers
Abstract:
ABL (Acrylonitrile-butadiene lignin) is a new class of renewable thermoplastic from nano structured lignin elastomers made by polymerizing lignin and acrylonitrile in the presence of butadiene. Currently ABS (Acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene) plastic is being widely used in electroplating in Automotive and manufacturing industries. In an Automotive Industries 52340 tonnes of waste is produced per year around the world. ABS is non-biodegradable and produces potentially dangerous wastes if not recycled, it gives of significant fumes/smoke when heated it a major pollutant and a health concern to those who inhale them and will quickly degrade when weathered or placed in high friction environment . So a sustainable alternative to ABS is the use of ABL, Polylactic acid (PLA) and Poly amide Carbon fiber (PACF). Replacing hexavalent chromium with trivalent chromium which is said to be 500 times less toxic than hexavalent chromium. This is the first time that someone has come up with a process in which the substrate used is bio degradable, the electroplated chemical ( Trivalent chromium) is environmentally friendly and the waste water generated in the process is purified in such a way it can be used to water a plant.
