EP0192233A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Molded metallized articles and processes for making the same
Assignee: Smith Corona Corp
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Filing: 1986-02-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-02-18
Abstract
Abstract Molded, one-piece articles having selected surfaces suitable for adherent metallization, molded, metallized, one-piece articles, and processes for making the said articles are disclosed. The molded one-piece articles may be formed by molding into a first mold cavity a first portion of the article using a first electrically insulating material which is adhesion promotable by an adhesion promotion process and is catalytic for adherent metallization, or is capable of being rendered catalytic for adherent metallization by an activating process; inserting the first portion into a second mold cavity; and molding into the second mold cavity a second portion of the article using a second electrically insulating material, leaving selected surface areas of the first portion exposed. The second material is resistant to the adhesion promotion process employed for the first material, or is non-catalytic for, and incapable of being rendered catalytic for, adherent metallization by the activating process employed for the first material. The exposed surface areas of the first portion of the article may then be metallized, for example, by electroless deposition to form the metallized one-piece article.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric J. Cleveland
- 👤 David C. Frisch
- 👤 Wilhelm Weber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 09:56
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/10; H05K3/18; H05K3/181; H05K3/182; C; C23; C23C; C23C18/00; C23C18/16; C23C18/1601; C23C18/1603; C23C18/1607; C23C18/1608; C23C18/1612; C23C18/1633; C23C18/1635; C23C18/1639; C23C18/1641; C23C18/18; C23C18/20; C23C18/2006; C23C18/2026; C23C18/204; C23C18/2046; C23C18/2073; C23C18/208; C23C18/22; C23C18/24; C23C18/28; C23C18/30; C23C18/31; C23C18/38; H05K3/0011; H05K3/0014; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0284; H05K1/03; H05K1/0313; H05K1/0353; H05K1/0373; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/01; H05K2201/0104; H05K2201/0129; H05K2201/0183; H05K2201/0187; H05K2201/02; H05K2201/0203; H05K2201/0206; H05K2201/0236; H05K2201/09; H05K2201/09009; H05K2201/09118; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/14; H05K2203/1476
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A molded unitary article comprising at least a first predetermined shape comprised of a first electrically insulating material being adhesion promotable by an adhesion promotion process and (i) catalytic for adherent metallization or (ii) capable of being rendered catalytic for adherent metallization by an activating process; at least a second predetermined shape comprised of a second electrically insulating material (i) resistant to the adhesion promotion process employed for said first material or (ii) non-catalytic for, and incapable of being rendered catalytic for, adherent metallization by the activating process employed for said first material; and said first and second materials defining first and second patterns on a surface of the molded article, said first pattern being suitable for adherent metallization and said second pattern being resistant to adherent metallization.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A molded unitary article comprising at least a first predetermined shape comprised of a first electrically insulating material being adhesion promotable by an adhesion promotion process and (i) catalytic for adherent metallization or (ii) capable of being rendered catalytic for adherent metallization by an activating process; at least a second predetermined shape comprised of a second electrically insulating material (i) resistant to the adhesion promotion process employed for said first material or (ii) non-catalytic for, and incapable of being rendered catalytic for, adherent metallization by the activating process employed for said first material; and said first and second materials defining first and second patterns on a surface of the molded article, said first pattern being suitable for adherent metallization and said second pattern being resistant to adherent metallization.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The article as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first material is adhesion promotable and is or can be rendered catalytic for adherent metallization, and said second material is not catalytic and is incapable of being adhesion promoted by the process employed for adhesion promotion of said first material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The article as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said first and second materials comprise high temperature thermoplastic polymers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The article as claimed in claim 3 wherein said high temperature thermoplastic polymers are selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polysulfone, polyetherimide, polyethersulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, and polyetheretherketone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one-piece article further comprising one or more three dimensional features integrally molded therewith, said features defined by said first material being suitable for adherent metallization and said features defined by said second material being resistant to adherent metallization.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second material has been molded onto said first material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first material has been molded onto said second material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The article as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second shape molded onto the first shape is defining on the surface(s) of the molded article the preselected insulative pattern outlining the conductive pattern of an electric conductor network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The article as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said first pattern has an adherent metal layer thereon and said second pattern is free of adherent metallization.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
139 words
A molded one-piece electrical circuit board comprising a circuit pattern comprised of a first electrically insulating material capable of being adhesion promoted by an adhesion promotion process and (i) catalytic for adherent metallization or (ii) capable of being rendered catalytic for adherent metallization by an activating process; a support structure comprised of a second electrically insulating material (i) resistant to the adhesion promotion process employed for said first material or (ii) non catalytic for, and incapable of being rendered catalytic for, adherent metallization by the activating process employed for said first material; said support structure being molded onto said circuit pattern to produce the one-piece electrical circuit board, said support structure leaving exposed selected surface areas of said circuit pattern suitable for adherent metallization; and a metal layer adhered to said selected surface areas defining electrically conductive paths thereon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
139 words
A molded one-piece electrical circuit board comprising a circuit pattern comprised of a first electrically insulating material capable of being adhesion promoted by an adhesion promotion process and (i) catalytic for adherent metallization or (ii) capable of being rendered catalytic for adherent metallization by an activating process; a support structure comprised of a second electrically insulating material (i) resistant to the adhesion promotion process employed for said first material or (ii) non catalytic for, and incapable of being rendered catalytic for, adherent metallization by the activating process employed for said first material; said support structure being molded onto said circuit pattern to produce the one-piece electrical circuit board, said support structure leaving exposed selected surface areas of said circuit pattern suitable for adherent metallization; and a metal layer adhered to said selected surface areas defining electrically conductive paths thereon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
The electrical circuit board as claimed in claim 10 wherein said circuit pattern includes at least two surface areas for forming electrically conductive paths and a web portion for holding said surface areas,- said web portion being recessed relative to said two surface areas and said second material covering said web portion and electrically insulating said electrically conductive paths from each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
164 words
A process for producing a one-piece, non-conductive article comprising areas which are or can be rendered catalytically receptive for adherent metallization, comprising the steps of molding a first electrically insulating material into at least one first predetermined shape, said first material being (i) resistant to adhesion promotion by an adhesion promotion process or (ii) non-catalytic for, and incapable of being rendered catalytic for, adherent metallization by an activating process; forming a second electrically insulating material into at least one second predetermined shape, said second material being capable of being adhesion promoted by said adhesion promotion process and (i) catalytic for adherent metallization or (ii) capable of being rendered catalytic for adherent metallization by the activating process employed for said first material; and interconnecting said first and second shapes to produce the one-piece, non-conductive article wherein selected surface areas of said article defined by said first shape(s) are suitable for adherent metallization and remaining areas defined by said second shape(s) are resistant to adherent metallization.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
164 words
A process for producing a one-piece, non-conductive article comprising areas which are or can be rendered catalytically receptive for adherent metallization, comprising the steps of molding a first electrically insulating material into at least one first predetermined shape, said first material being (i) resistant to adhesion promotion by an adhesion promotion process or (ii) non-catalytic for, and incapable of being rendered catalytic for, adherent metallization by an activating process; forming a second electrically insulating material into at least one second predetermined shape, said second material being capable of being adhesion promoted by said adhesion promotion process and (i) catalytic for adherent metallization or (ii) capable of being rendered catalytic for adherent metallization by the activating process employed for said first material; and interconnecting said first and second shapes to produce the one-piece, non-conductive article wherein selected surface areas of said article defined by said first shape(s) are suitable for adherent metallization and remaining areas defined by said second shape(s) are resistant to adherent metallization.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
162 words
A process for producing a one-piece, non-conductive article comprising areas which are or can be rendered catalytically receptive for adherent metallization, comprising the steps of forming a first electrically insulating material into at least one first predetermined shape, said first material being adhesion promotable. by an adhesion promotion process and (i) catalytic for adherent metallization or (ii) capable of being rendered catalytic for adherent metallization by an activating process; molding a second insulating material into at least one second predetermined shape, said second material being (i) resistant to the adhesion promotion process employed for said first material or (ii) non-catalytic for, and incapable of being rendered catalytic for, adherent metallization by the activating process employed for said first material; and interconnecting said first and second shapes to produce the one-piece, non-conductive article wherein selected surface areas of said article defined by said first shape(s) are suitable for adherent metallization and remaining areas defined by said second shape(s) are resistant to adherent metallization.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
162 words
A process for producing a one-piece, non-conductive article comprising areas which are or can be rendered catalytically receptive for adherent metallization, comprising the steps of forming a first electrically insulating material into at least one first predetermined shape, said first material being adhesion promotable. by an adhesion promotion process and (i) catalytic for adherent metallization or (ii) capable of being rendered catalytic for adherent metallization by an activating process; molding a second insulating material into at least one second predetermined shape, said second material being (i) resistant to the adhesion promotion process employed for said first material or (ii) non-catalytic for, and incapable of being rendered catalytic for, adherent metallization by the activating process employed for said first material; and interconnecting said first and second shapes to produce the one-piece, non-conductive article wherein selected surface areas of said article defined by said first shape(s) are suitable for adherent metallization and remaining areas defined by said second shape(s) are resistant to adherent metallization.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13 wherein said first or second or both material(s) is (are) formed by molding.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process as claimed in claim 14 wherein said molding is injection molding.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13 wherein said first and second materials are selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polymers, thermoset plastics, and ceramic materials.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process as claimed in claim 16 wherein the materials are thermoplastic polymers selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyetheretherketones, poJyethermimides, polyethersulfones, polyphenylene sulfides and polysulfones.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13 wherein said first and second shapes are interconnected by injection molding said second material into said second predetermined shape about said first predetermined shape.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
187 words
A process for producing a one-piece, non-conductive article having a metallized pattern on its surface comprising the steps of forming a first electrically insulating material into at least one first predetermined shape, said first material being adhesion promotable by an adhesion promotion process and (i) catalytic for adherent metallization or (ii) capable of being rendered catalytic for adherent metallization by an activating process; forming a second electrically insulating material into at least one second predetermined shape, said second material being (i) resistant to said adhesion promotion process or (ii) non-catalytic for and incapable of being rendered catalytic for adherent metallization by said activating process; interconnecting said first and second shapes to produce the one-piece, non-conductive article wherein selected surface areas of said article defined by said first shape(s) are suitable for adherent metallization and remaining areas defined by said second shape(s) being resistant to adherent metallization; adhesion promoting said first material in said selected surface areas defined by said first shape and optionally activating said first material for metal deposition; and depositing metal on said selected surface areas of said first shape to form the metallized pattern
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
187 words
A process for producing a one-piece, non-conductive article having a metallized pattern on its surface comprising the steps of forming a first electrically insulating material into at least one first predetermined shape, said first material being adhesion promotable by an adhesion promotion process and (i) catalytic for adherent metallization or (ii) capable of being rendered catalytic for adherent metallization by an activating process; forming a second electrically insulating material into at least one second predetermined shape, said second material being (i) resistant to said adhesion promotion process or (ii) non-catalytic for and incapable of being rendered catalytic for adherent metallization by said activating process; interconnecting said first and second shapes to produce the one-piece, non-conductive article wherein selected surface areas of said article defined by said first shape(s) are suitable for adherent metallization and remaining areas defined by said second shape(s) being resistant to adherent metallization; adhesion promoting said first material in said selected surface areas defined by said first shape and optionally activating said first material for metal deposition; and depositing metal on said selected surface areas of said first shape to form the metallized pattern
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
20 . The process as claimed in claim 19 further comprising the step of molding one or more three-dimensional features integrally therewith, said features defined by said first material being suitable for adherent metallization and said feature defined by said second material being resistant to adherent metallization.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process as claimed in claim 1 9 or claim 20 wherein said metallized pattern forms the conductor network of a printed circuit board.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process as claimed in claim 21 further comprising the steps of forming at least one web section integrally with said circuit pattern from said first material to produce a one-piece circuit pattern; and covering said web section with said molded second material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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