US4241105A — Method of plating the surface of a substrate

Claim 1

Independent Claim 61 words

A method of plating a dielectric surface of a substrate comprising the steps of: (a) coating the substrate with a solution comprising a silver-pyridine complex dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent; (b) drying the substrate; (c) immersing the substrate in a basic solution whereby the silver-pyridine complex is converted to a silver oxide; and (d) reducing the silver oxide to metallic silver.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 61 words

A method of plating a dielectric surface of a substrate comprising the steps of: (a) coating the substrate with a solution comprising a silver-pyridine complex dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent; (b) drying the substrate; (c) immersing the substrate in a basic solution whereby the silver-pyridine complex is converted to a silver oxide; and (d) reducing the silver oxide to metallic silver.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method recited in claim 1 wherein the non-aqueous solvent comprises a member of the group consisting of a low molecular weight ketone, a low molecular weight alcohol and a mixture thereof.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method recited in claim 2 wherein the ketone is an alkyl ketone having from 3-6 carbon atoms and the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of a primary alcohol and a secondary alcohol having from 1-3 carbon atoms.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method recited in claim 2 wherein the solvent comprises a member of the group consisting of (1) a mixture of methyl ehtyl ketone with isopropanol and (2) methanol.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method recited in claim 1 wherein said silver-pyridine complex is formed by dissolving a silver salt in pyridine.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method recited in claim 5 wherein said silver salt is silver nitrate.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method recited in claim 1 wherein the substrate is an organic polymer.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method recited in claim 7 wherein the substrate is a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamides and vinyls.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method recited in claim 8 wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of nylon and polyvinyl chloride.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method recited in claim 1 wherein said basic solution is non-aqueous and is an alkaline metal hydroxide in an alcohol solvent having from 1-3 carbon atoms.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method recited in claim 10 wherein the alkaline metal hydroxide is selected from NaOH and KOH and the alcohol comprises a member of the group consisting of ethyl alcohol, methanol, propanol, isopropanol, and a mixture of the foregoing alcohols.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method recited in claim 1 wherein the silver oxide is reduced to metallic silver by heating at a temperature greater than 100° C. but less than the temperature at which the substrate melts or decomposes.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method recited in claim 1 wherein the silver oxide is reduced by treating with a chemical reducing agent.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method as recited in claim 13 wherein the chemical reducing agent is hydrazine.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method as recited in claim 13 wherein the chemical reducing agent comprises a reducing gas selected from the group consisting of CO, H 2 and a mixture thereof.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the substrate is a continuous, non-twisted, fiber bundle.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the drying temperature is lower than the temperature at which the fibers adhere to each other.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method recited in claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises a nylon textile yarn.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method recited in claim 18 wherein the substrate is dried at a temperature between 104° to 115° C.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method recited in claim 19 wherein said silver oxide is reduced to metallic silver by heating.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 60 words

A method of spontaneously plating a continuous, reflective layer of silver on a substrate comprising the steps of: (a) coating the substrate with a solution comprising a silver-pyridine complex dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent; (b) drying the substrate; and (c) immersing the substrate in a basic solution, whereby the silver-pyridine complex is directly converted to a continuous reflective silver layer.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 60 words

A method of spontaneously plating a continuous, reflective layer of silver on a substrate comprising the steps of: (a) coating the substrate with a solution comprising a silver-pyridine complex dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent; (b) drying the substrate; and (c) immersing the substrate in a basic solution, whereby the silver-pyridine complex is directly converted to a continuous reflective silver layer.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 12 words

A method as recited in claim 21 wherein said substrate is copper.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 21 words

The method recited in claims 1 or 21 including the step of subjecting the metallic silver layered substrate to electroless plating.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method recited in claim 23 including the step of electroplating a metal onto the substrate.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 62 words

A method of making an insulated conductor comprising the steps of; (a) immersing a substrate, selected from the group consisting of a continuous, dielectric fiber bundle, in a solution comprising a silver-pyridine complex dissolved in a non-aqueous solent; (b) drying the fiber bundle; (c) immersing the fiber bundle in a basic solution whereby the silver-pyridine complex is converted to a silver oxide;

Claim 28

Independent Claim 62 words

A method of making an insulated conductor comprising the steps of; (a) immersing a substrate, selected from the group consisting of a continuous, dielectric fiber bundle, in a solution comprising a silver-pyridine complex dissolved in a non-aqueous solent; (b) drying the fiber bundle; (c) immersing the fiber bundle in a basic solution whereby the silver-pyridine complex is converted to a silver oxide;

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 25 words

(d) reducing the silver oxide to metallic silver; (e) electroless plating the fiber bundle; (f) electroplating the fiber bundle; and (g) insulting the fiber bundle.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 25 words

(d) reducing the silver oxide to metallic silver; (e) electroless plating the fiber bundle; (f) electroplating the fiber bundle; and (g) insulting the fiber bundle.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method recited in claim 25 wherein the substrate consists of a continuous non-twisted dielectric fiber bundle and including the step of twisting the fiber bundle subsequent to electroplating and prior to insulating.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method recited in claim 25 wherein the fiber bundle is an organic polymer.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method recited in claim 25 wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyamides and vinyls.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method recited in claim 25 wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of nylon and polyvinyl chloride.

Claim 35

Independent Claim 103 words

A method of making an insulated conductor comprising the steps of: (a) coating a continuous length of non-twisted nylon yarn with a solution comprising a silver-pyridine complex dissolved inl a non-aqueous solvent, (b) drying the yarn at between 102° to 114° C., (c) converting the silver-pyridine complex to silver oxide by treating with a basic solution, (d) reducing the silver oxide to metallic silver by heating at a temperature from about 165° to 170° C., (e) electroless plating the yarn with a conductive metal, (f) electroplating the yarn with a conductive metal, (g) twisting the plated yarn, and (h) insulating the twisted yarn.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 103 words

A method of making an insulated conductor comprising the steps of: (a) coating a continuous length of non-twisted nylon yarn with a solution comprising a silver-pyridine complex dissolved inl a non-aqueous solvent, (b) drying the yarn at between 102° to 114° C., (c) converting the silver-pyridine complex to silver oxide by treating with a basic solution, (d) reducing the silver oxide to metallic silver by heating at a temperature from about 165° to 170° C., (e) electroless plating the yarn with a conductive metal, (f) electroplating the yarn with a conductive metal, (g) twisting the plated yarn, and (h) insulating the twisted yarn.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 33 words

The method recited in claims 25 or 30 wherein a plurality of insulated conductors are twisted, and a polymer jacket is formed over the plurality of insulated conductors to form a conductive cord.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1983-12-23	1984-06-23	1984-12-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1987-12-23	1988-06-23	1988-12-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1991-12-23	1992-06-23	1992-12-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method of plating the surface of a substrate

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