A new strategy to activate liquid crystal polymer samples for electroless copper deposition

Abstract

In order to activate the polymers for electroless copper deposition, an alternative way of sample preparation is demonstrated. The samples are prepared by incorporation of a small amount (<1 wt %) of palladium, nickel, or copper acetate into the molten Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) in a blender. Since the blending temperature is kept higher than the decomposition temperature of acetates, the acetates are thermally decomposed during blending, leading to the metallic Pd, Ni, or Cu which are used as activators for electroless deposition. After preparing the samples, electroless copper deposition is successfully realized. The influence of different acetates (Pd, Ni, or Cu acetates) on the deposition is investigated. The copper amount is higher and the deposition kinetics is faster on LCP samples with 0.15 wt % Pd and 0.4 wt % Ni than that with 0.4 wt % Cu. The deposited copper layers are uniform and oxide-free. Moreover, the possibility to substitute expensive Pd activator by cheaper Ni or Cu is shown.

3D-MID Technology for Surface Modification of Polymer-Based Composites: A Comprehensive Review

“…Higher concentration of activator or too long immersion time lead to improper activation which probably cause poor metallic bonding. There are many commercial catalysts that can be used in the activation process as showed in Table 8 [ 282 , 283 , 284 , 285 ]. Generally, the electroless plating is regarded as a dehydrogenation reaction since the hydrogen may develops simultaneously with metal reduction.…”

Programmable liquid crystal elastomer matrix through photomechanical responses

“…Along with the development of smart structures, the functional materials attract great attention and are widely applied in responsive coating, soft robotics and haptic displays, which have high requirement for programmability . Extensive studies about the responsive materials such as the piezoelectric polymers, dielectric elastomers, and thermo‐pneumatic actuators have been carried out.…”

Diseño sostenible de materiales cerámicos multifuncionales para el suministro eléctrico de baja potencia.

“…Una superficie metálica puede ser obtenida por varios métodos tales como deposición física en fase vapor, electrodeposición y por reducción química autocatalítica (Atli et al, 2017;R. H. Guo, Jiang, Zheng, & Lan, 2012), siendo este último un proceso de bajo coste y fácil aplicación.…”

“…H. Guo, Jiang, Zheng, & Lan, 2012), siendo este último un proceso de bajo coste y fácil aplicación. Además, el método de reducción química A metallic surface can be obtained by varying methods such as physical vapor deposition, electrodeposition and electroless methods (Atli et al, 2017;, the latter being a cost-efficient and simple process. In addition, the electroless method has no restrictions regarding the nature or shape of the substrate and allows the autocatalítica no presenta restricción respecto a la naturaleza o forma del sustrato y permite obtener recubrimientos de aleaciones sobre superficies no conductoras, con espesores homogéneos y uniformes (Heidarzadeh, Mousavian, Khosroshahi, Afkham, & Pouraliakbar, 2017;Kobets & Vorobyova, 2016;Haoran Wu, Susanto, & Lian, 2017).…”

“…Zheng et al, 2017). Para conseguir una superficie conductora sobre un sustrato cerámico se pueden realizar procesos como pulverización catódica reactiva, deposición física en fase de vapor, deposición química en fase de vapor o reducción química autocatalítica (Atli et al, 2017;. Este último método permite obtener una superficie metálica de una forma sencilla, rápida y de buena calidad que se adapta fácilmente a la forma del sustrato.…”