Toyota unveils new process to plate plastics, reduce size of printed boards in electronics

Toyota Motor Corp. announced this week that it has found an environmentally friendly way to plate plastics, and says the new technology could lead to printed boards that are one-tenth of their current size.

Working with the Kanto Gakuin University Surface Engineering Research Institute and Kanto Kasei Co., the Japanese auto manufacturer developed a process that uses “photocatalytic technology” to treat plastic surfaces before they’re plated. The traditional alternative involves using strong oxidants such as hexavalent chromium.

The companies plan to begin marketing auto parts with the new technology in 2006.