US3900320A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Activation method for electroless plating
Assignee: Bell and Howell Co
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Filing: 1971-09-30
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Granted: 1975-08-19
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Expires: 1991-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A process for metallizing a plastic or ceramic base. A pre-plate solution comprising a compound of catalytic metal, such as a palladium salt, binder material such as one or more polymers and/or polymer formers, and solvent are applied to the base and dried so as to form a polymer layer of about 20*A to about 3000*A thick which may thereafter be directly plated by contact with an electroless plating solution. The pre-plate solution has specified viscosity characteristics and concentration levels of catalytic metal compound. A tenacious plate can be obtained on a ceramic base by pyrolyzing the polymer layer and thereafter applying an electroless plating solution. A photosensitive polymer former can be used as a component of the pre-plate solution for photographically developing a plateable pattern on a substrate such as a circuit board, printing plate or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 John H Rolker
- 👤 Bradley A Carson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:26
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/004; G03F7/0047; C; C23; C23C; C23C18/00; C23C18/02; C23C18/08; C23C18/16; C23C18/1601; C23C18/1633; C23C18/1646; C23C18/165; C23C18/1651; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/10; H05K3/18; H05K3/181; H05K3/182; H05K3/185
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A METHOD FOR FORMING A METAL IMAGE ON AN ORGANIC POLYMER BASE, WHICH COMPRISES: COMBINING IN SOLUTION A METAL-CONTAINING COMPONENT CAPABLE OF FORMING CATALYTIC BONDING SITES FOR AN ELECTROLESS METAL PLATING PROCESS, PHOTOSENSITIVE POLYMERIZABLE BINDER MATERIAL AND AT LEAST ONE SOLVENT FOR SAID BINDER MATERIAL AND SAID COMPONENT, THE WEIGHT RATIO OF SAID BINDER MATERIAL TO THE METAL PORTION OF SAID METAL-CONTAINING COMPONENT IN SAID COMBINATION BEING FROM ABOUT 0.3:1 TO ABOUT 15:1, SAID COMBINATION HAVING A VISCOSITY, UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF ITS APPLICATION TO SAID BASE, EQUIVALENT TO A NEWTONIAN FLUID VISCOSITY OF ABOUT 0.2 TO ABOUT 100 CENTIPOISES: APPLYING SAID COMBINATION TO SAID BASE AND DRYING AT A TEMPERATURE OF 20*-150* SO AS TO FORM A LAYER THEREOF ABOUT 20 A TO ABOUT 3000 A THICK ON SAID BASE, PHOTOGRAPHICALLY EXPOSING SAID LAYER TO FORM SOLVENT-RESISTANT POLYMERIZED IMAGE PORTIONS ON SAID PLATE AGAINST A SOLVENT-SOLUBLE BACKGROUND, THEREAFTER TREATING SAID LAYER WITH SOLVENT TO REMOVE SAID BACKGROUND, AND THEREAFTER ELECTROLESSLY PLATING SAID IMAGE PORTIONS TO FORM SAID METAL IMAGE.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
A METHOD FOR FORMING A METAL IMAGE ON AN ORGANIC POLYMER BASE, WHICH COMPRISES: COMBINING IN SOLUTION A METAL-CONTAINING COMPONENT CAPABLE OF FORMING CATALYTIC BONDING SITES FOR AN ELECTROLESS METAL PLATING PROCESS, PHOTOSENSITIVE POLYMERIZABLE BINDER MATERIAL AND AT LEAST ONE SOLVENT FOR SAID BINDER MATERIAL AND SAID COMPONENT, THE WEIGHT RATIO OF SAID BINDER MATERIAL TO THE METAL PORTION OF SAID METAL-CONTAINING COMPONENT IN SAID COMBINATION BEING FROM ABOUT 0.3:1 TO ABOUT 15:1, SAID COMBINATION HAVING A VISCOSITY, UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF ITS APPLICATION TO SAID BASE, EQUIVALENT TO A NEWTONIAN FLUID VISCOSITY OF ABOUT 0.2 TO ABOUT 100 CENTIPOISES: APPLYING SAID COMBINATION TO SAID BASE AND DRYING AT A TEMPERATURE OF 20*-150* SO AS TO FORM A LAYER THEREOF ABOUT 20 A TO ABOUT 3000 A THICK ON SAID BASE, PHOTOGRAPHICALLY EXPOSING SAID LAYER TO FORM SOLVENT-RESISTANT POLYMERIZED IMAGE PORTIONS ON SAID PLATE AGAINST A SOLVENT-SOLUBLE BACKGROUND, THEREAFTER TREATING SAID LAYER WITH SOLVENT TO REMOVE SAID BACKGROUND, AND THEREAFTER ELECTROLESSLY PLATING SAID IMAGE PORTIONS TO FORM SAID METAL IMAGE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention according to claim 1 in which said component comprises a metal compound capable of being reduced to its active metal constituent so as to form said catalytic bonding sites.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention according to claim 1 in which said component comprises a plurality of noble metal particles of about 5 A to about 2000 A in size.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention according to claim 2 in which the weight ratio of said binder material to the metal component of said metal compound in said combination is about 0.3:1 to about 8:1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention according to claim 1 in which said combination has a viscosity, under the conditions of its application to said base, equivalent to a Newtonian fluid viscosity of about 0.2 to about 10 centipoises.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention according to claim 2 in which said metal compound is a palladium salt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention according to claim 1 in which said binder material additionally comprises one or more non-photosensitive polymers or non-photosensitive polymer formers.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-18 | 1979-02-17 | 1979-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-18 | 1983-02-17 | 1983-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-18 | 1987-02-17 | 1987-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |