Welcome to Ecosam

The Development of a novel, hexavalent Chrome free pre-treatment for Plastic surfaces.

The ECOSAM research is being part financed by the European Commission under the sixth framework programme as a Co-operative Research Project in which three Research Centres support the needs of a core group of small and medium-sized enterprises. (Contract number: COOP-CT-2006-032367).

The Ecosam project intends to develop a novel surface pre-treatment method for chrome plating on a broad range of plastics. The majority of industries worldwide use a hexavalent chrome based pretreatment. Its major disadvantage is that hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is carcinogenic and cost effective alternatives would improve the environment and reduce the risks to the health of workers in the industry.

The new process is based on a molecular self-assembly technology (SAM) which has been developed in Spain. The process eliminates the need for chemical
etching and electroless nickel plating, and provides a stable and secure surface suitable for subsequent chrome plating operations.