Separation of Metal from Metal-Plated Plastic by Pulsed Power

Abstract

A new method to separate the metal from metal-plated plastic is proposed, and experimentally its effectiveness is confirmed. The pulsed high voltage is applied between two rod electrodes covered by ceramics. The discharge electrodes are moved with a high speed by a robot. The pulsed arc discharges produce the plasmas between two electrodes and the surface of metal-plated plastic, and the shock wave is produced when a part of metal layer is vaporized. Then the plated metal comes off from plastic. Both the removed metal and the plastic can be recycled as materials.