Plating on Plastics (PoP) is widely used in several manufacturing sectors including automotive, home appliances and aerospace to protect plastic items, parts or components from wear, corrosion, impact, electromagnetic radiation etc., while also providing shiny, aesthetically attractive exterior. However, the current PoP process encounters significant challenges related to environmental hazards and occupational safety risks. The FreeMe project, funded by the European Union, is revolutionizing PoP by incorporating Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) methods and protocols to eliminate toxic or expensive materials from the PoP process, like hexavalent Chromium (Cr6+) and Palladium (Pd). FreeMe will address these challenges by implementing innovative surface metallisation technologies that involve less hazardous etching systems or spraying of bio-based epoxy resins (instead of Cr6+) and use of nickel salts instead of Pd as activation sites.
1 June 2022 – 31 May 2026
Call topic: HORIZON-CL4-2021-RESILIENCE-01-12 – Safe- and sustainable-by-design metallic coatings and engineered surfaces (RIA)
Contact
- Project Coordinator: Mrs. Graziella Galati, graziella.galati@gruppogaser.com, Gruppo Gaser
- C&D managers:
Dr. Apostolos Parlamas, apostolos.p@exelisis.gr, EXELISIS IKE
Dr. Kostas Pyrgakis, kostas.p@exelisis.gr, EXELISIS IKE
Melina Psycha, melina.p@exelisis.gr, EXELISIS IKE - Project website: www.freeme-project.eu
- E-mail: info@freeme-project.eu