Verfahren zur Metallisierung von Kunststoffen

Verfahren zur Metallisierung von Kunststoffen durch stromlose Metallabscheidung unter Verzicht auf die vorherige Abscheidung eines Edelmetallkatalysators. Die Kunststoffoberflaeche wird dazu durch elektromagnetische Strahlung aktiviert, so dass ein im Kunststoff vorhandener Fuellstoff in einem stromlosen Bad eine Metallabscheidung initiiert.

DE 19852776 A UPAB: 20000712 NOVELTY - Plastic metallization, by irradiating a photosensitive particle-filled plastic workpiece to expose surface particles prior to electroless metal plating, is new. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Plastics are metallized, without nucleation with palladium, by filling the plastic with photosensitive material particles, exposing the plastic surface to electromagnetic radiation which removes the plastic to leave exposed particles and depositing metal from an electroless plating bath onto the irradiated regions. Preferred Features: The electromagnetic radiation is laser radiation, especially at an IR wavelength of 10.6 mu m. The photosensitive material is sublimed by the laser treatment and re-deposited on adjacent surface regions to form a uniform coating of the photosensitive material. The plastic may also contain other fillers. USE - For metallizing plastics by electroless plating and then electroplating. ADVANTAGE - The process avoids the need for nucleation with palladium and allows activation to be carried out using a high power IR laser for more rapid and less expensive plastic surface treatment compared with UV activation.