Innovative, environmentally friendly decoating of metallised plastic products using laser technology

Abstract Metallised plastic parts are used for a wide range of applications, for example, the automotive and packaging industry or household goods because of their specific functions, high-quality look, and hygienic properties. The use of these products has increased significantly in many sectors of industry which admittedly implicates certain materials and products drawbacks, especially with a view to sustainability issues. The recycling of waste metallised plastic products is currently very difficult and usually, the plastic material is incinerated for the recovery of the metallic components. Ansbach University of Applied Sciences has been working on the removal of the paint layers from various materials for several years. This article presents a study on how the metallised layer can be removed from the plastic parts using laser technology. The results show that the metallic layers can be separated from the plastic carrier (thermoplastic parts) without damaging the polymers which facilitates a high-quality recycling of each material (polymer and metal). Metallised plastic parts of made from different materials, featuring various thicknesses and treated with different metallisation techniques, were successfully tested. The laser processing of the metallised parts has proven to be an effective and environmentally friendly method for achieving a high-quality separation of the materials.