US4610895A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process for metallizing plastics
Assignee: Shipley Co Inc
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Filing: 1985-03-14
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Granted: 1986-09-09
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Expires: 2005-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A process for the metallization of a plastic by electroless deposition, wherein the plastic surface is contacted with a solution useful for the treatment of oxidant residue following contact of the surface with an oxidizing solution such as a hexavalent chromium or permanganate solution. In one embodiment, the solution comprises a reducing agent, a pH adjuster and a surface active agent in a concentration sufficient to reduce the surface tension of the solution preferably to 50 dynes per square centimeter or less at the operating temperature of the solution. In a second embodiment, the solution consists essentially of the surface active agent in a concentration sufficient to achieve the above surface tension range.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy S. Tubergen
- 👤 Terrell A. Benjamin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:22
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/38; H05K3/381; C; C23; C23C; C23C18/00; C23C18/16; C23C18/18; C23C18/20; C23C18/22; C23C18/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A process for the metallization of a plastic by electroless deposition including the step of treating the plastic with a liquid solution of an oxidant selected from the group consisting of hexavalent chromium solutions and permanganate solutions prior to the metallization of the plastic, said process comprising contact of the plastic subsequent to treatment with the oxidant and prior to the steps of catalyzation and metallization with a solution consisting essentially of a surface active agent in a concentration sufficient to reduce the surface tension of said solution to 50 dynes per square centimeter or less at the operating temperature of the solution.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A process for the metallization of a plastic by electroless deposition including the step of treating the plastic with a liquid solution of an oxidant selected from the group consisting of hexavalent chromium solutions and permanganate solutions prior to the metallization of the plastic, said process comprising contact of the plastic subsequent to treatment with the oxidant and prior to the steps of catalyzation and metallization with a solution consisting essentially of a surface active agent in a concentration sufficient to reduce the surface tension of said solution to 50 dynes per square centimeter or less at the operating temperature of the solution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 where the surface tension is reduced to between 15 and 40 dynes per square centimeter at an operating temperature of at least 100° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 where the pH of the solution is less then 1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 where the surface active agent is an anionic or non-ionic agent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The process of claim 1 where the surface active agent is selected from the group consisting of alkyl sulfonates, sulfonated amines and amides, carboxylated alcohol ethoxylates, diphenyl sulfonate derivatives, ethoxylated alcohols, ethoxylated amines and amides, fluorocarbons, olefin sulfonates, phosphate esters, quaternary amines, sulfates and sulfonates of ethoxylated alkyl phenols, sulfonates of alkylaryls and sulfonates of naphthalene and alkyl naphthalenes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 where the surface active agent is a perfluorinated hydrocarbon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of claim 6 where the perfluorinated hydrocarbon conforms to the general formula: C.sub.n F.sub.n+1 CO--Z or C.sub.n F.sub.2n+1 SO.sub.2 --Z where n in each formula is a positive integer varying between 3 and 10 and Z is a hydrophilic group.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 7 where the perflorinated hydrocarbon conforms to the general formula: C.sub.3 F.sub.7 CO--Z, C.sub.7 F.sub.15 CO--Z, C.sub.8 F.sub.17 SO.sub.2 --Z, or C.sub.10 F.sub.21 SO.sub.2 --Z where Z is a hydrophilic group.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process of claim 7 where Z is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, hydroxyl, an ammonium group, an unsubstituted and substituted amine group, a quaternary ammonium salt, and a substituted and unsubstituted amide group.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
9 words
The process of claim 7 where Z is hydroxyl.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 6 where the concentration of the perfluorinated hydrocarbon varies between 0.01 grams per liter of solution and its solubility limit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 11 where the concentration of the hydrocarbon varies between 0.20 and 5.0 grams per liter of solution.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 6 where the plastic treated is a foamed plastic.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 6 where the plastic is hung on racks during processing which racks have interstices in contact with treatment solutions, said interstices comprising spaces between a metal core and a plastisol coating.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 6 including the step of contact of the plastic part with a solution of a reducing agent prior to or subsequent to the step of treatment with the solution of the surface active agent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 15 where the reducing agent is a solution of hydroxylamine in acid media.
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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) | 1989-09-08 | 1990-03-10 | 1990-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-09-08 | 1994-03-10 | 1994-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-09-08 | 1998-03-10 | 1998-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |