Counterfeit proofing of plated polymers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016253586-A1
Application number	US-201414903926-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 9, 2014
Priority date	Jul 9, 2013
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Plated polymeric articles having anti-counterfeiting tags therein and method of making the same are disclosed. A plated polymeric article comprises a polymer shaped formed into a desired shape with an anti-counterfeiting tag incorporated therein. The plated polymeric article comprises a first metal plated onto the polymer and a second metal deposited onto the first metal. Alternatively, a plated polymeric article comprises a composite layup having first and second polymer layers with an anti-counterfeiting tag disposed between the layers. The plated polymeric article further comprises a first metal plated onto the polymer. Lastly, a method for fabricating a plated polymeric article is disclosed. A polymer is formed into a desired shape, the polymer having an anti-counterfeiting tag incorporated therein. The outer surface of the article is prepared to receive a catalyst and then is activated with the catalyst. A first metallic layer is then plated onto the outer surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A plated polymeric article, comprising:
a polymer, the polymer formed into a desired shape having an outer surface, the polymer having an anti-counterfeiting tag incorporated therein; a first metal plated onto the outer surface to form a structure; and a second metal deposited onto the structure.

2 . The plated polymeric article of claim 1 wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), an ABS/polycarbonate blend, polyetherimide (PEI), polyimide, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyether ketone ketone (PEKK), polysulfone, nylon, polyphenylsulfide, and polyester.

3 . The plated polymeric article of claim 1 wherein the anti-counterfeiting tag is detectable through the structure by an external sensor.

4 . The plated polymeric article of claim 1 wherein the anti-counterfeiting tag is selected from the group consisting of a material having a different density than the polymer, a low-level radio isotope, a RFID tag, and a chemical.

5 . A plated polymeric article, comprising:
a composite layup, the composite layup having a first layer and a second layer, the first layer comprising a first polymer, the second layer comprising a second polymer, an anti-counterfeiting tag disposed between the first and second layers, the composite layup formed into a desired shape having an outer surface; a first metal plated onto the outer surface to form a structure; and a second metal deposited onto the structure.

6 . The plated polymeric article of claim 5 wherein the first polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyetherimide (PEI), polyimide, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyether ketone ketone (PEKK), polysulfone, nylon, polyphenylsulfide, and polyester.

7 . The plated polymeric article of claim 5 wherein the second polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyetherimide (PEI), polyimide, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyether ketone ketone (PEKK), polysulfone, nylon, polyphenylsulfide, and polyester.

8 . The plated polymeric article of claim 5 wherein the composite layup further comprises reinforcing fiber.

9 . The plated polyermic article of claim 8 wherein the reinforcing fiber is selected from the group consisting of carbon-fiber and glass-fiber.

10 . The plated polymeric article of claim 5 wherein the anti-counterfeiting tag is detectable through the structure by an external sensor.

11 . The plated polymeric article of claim 5 wherein the anti-counterfeiting tag is selected from the group consisting of a material having a different density than the polymer, a low-level radio isotope, a RFID tag, and a chemical.

12 . A method for fabricating a plated polymeric article, the method comprising:
forming a polymer into a desired shape having an outer surface, the polymer having an anti-counterfeiting tag incorporated therein; preparing the outer surface to receive a catalyst; activating the outer surface with the catalyst; plating a first metal onto the outer surface and the catalyst to form a first layer to form a structure; and depositing a second metal onto the structure.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the anti-counterfeiting tag is selected from the group consisting of a material having a different density than the polymer, a low-level radio isotope, a RFID tag, and a chemical.

14 . The method of claim 12 wherein the preparing of the outer surface to receive the catalyst includes a process selected from the group consisting of etching, abrading, reactive ion etching, ionic activation, and deposition of a conductive material.

15 . The method of claim 12 wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, gold, and combinations thereof.

16 . The method of claim 12 wherein the first metal is selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper, gold, silver, graphite and combinations thereof.

17 . The method of claim 12 wherein the catalyst is deposited on the outer surface in an atomic layer thickness.

18 . The method of claim 12 wherein the first layer has a thickness ranging from about 0.1 to about 10 microns.

19 . The method of claim 12 wherein the forming of the polymer into the desired shape is performed with a process selected from the group consisting of additive manufacturing (AM), injection molding, compression molding, blow molding, extrusion molding, thermoforming, transfer molding, reaction injection molding, and combinations thereof.

20 . The method of claim 12 further including alloying the structure.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Cook Grant O
• Twelves Wendell V

Classifications

• B29L2009/008

  metalized, galvanized · CPC title

• C25D7/04

  Tubes; Rings; Hollow bodies · CPC title

• G01N2203/0298

  Manufacturing or preparing specimens · CPC title

• B29C64/153

  using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting · CPC title

• B29K2105/251

  Particles, powder or granules (expandable particles B29K2105/046) · CPC title