US4900618A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oxidation-resistant metal coatings
Assignee: Laird Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1987-06-19
•
Granted: 1990-02-13
•
Expires: 2007-06-19
Abstract
Abstract Oxidation-resistant, electrolessly deposited metal coatings, e.g. of copper, can be provided on a variety of substrates such as fibers and films. Precursor substrates have nascent or actual clusters of catalytic metal with dimensions less than 100 nanometers, e.g. about 10 nanometers. Disclosed methods can produce electrically conductive, copper-coated PET or acrylic multifilament with a resistance of less than 20 ohms/meter.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael T. O'Connor
- 👤 James D. Capistran
- 👤 James P. Brozek
- 👤 Albert W. Morgan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:09
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J31/00; B01J31/02; B01J31/06; C; C23; C23C; C23C18/00; C23C18/16; C23C18/18; C23C18/1851; C23C18/1872; C23C18/1875; C23C18/1879; C23C18/1601; C23C18/1633; C23C18/1646; C23C18/165; C23C18/1653; C23C18/1862; C23C18/1865; C23C18/1882; C23C18/20; C23C18/2006; C23C18/2026; C23C18/2033; C23C18/2046; C23C18/2053; C23C18/2066; C23C18/31; C23C18/38; B82; B82Y; B82Y30/00; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/10; H05K3/18; H05K3/181; H05K3/182; H05K3/185; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12424; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249978; Y10T428/25; Y10T428/256; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/263; Y10T428/264; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2927; Y10T428/2933; Y10T428/294; Y10T428/2942; Y10T428/2944; Y10T428/2958; Y10T428/298; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31678
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
44 words
An article having a coating comprising an oxidatively-resistant layer of electrolessly-deposited copper, wherein such copper remains tarnish free and bright for at least one day, has a substantially smooth surface and substantially no pores of a volume greater than a 250 nanometer sided cube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
An article having a coating comprising an oxidatively-resistant layer of electrolessly-deposited copper, wherein such copper remains tarnish free and bright for at least one day, has a substantially smooth surface and substantially no pores of a volume greater than a 250 nanometer sided cube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A laminate according to claim 1 wherein said copper is not greater than 3 micrometers in thickness.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
An article according to claim 1 in the form of a metal-coated fiber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
An electrically-conductive cable comprising a plurality of fibers according to claim 3.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An article according to claim 1 wherein said layer is electrolessly deposited on a polymer layer comprising clusters of a Group 1B or Group 8 metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
An article according to claim 1 wherein said clusters are palladium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article according to claim 6 wherein said clusters comprise palladium crystals of octahedral morphorlogy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An article according to claim 5 wherein said clusters have a nominal cross-sectional dimension of not greater than about 100 nanometers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An article according to claim 8 wherein said clusters have a nominal cross-sectional dimension of not greater than about 50 nanometers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
An article according to claim 9 wherein said clusters have a nominal cross-sectional dimension of not greater than about 20 nanometers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
An article according to claim 10 wherein said clusters have a nominal cross-sectional dimension of not greater than about 10 nanometers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
An article according to claim 1 comprising at least one other outer layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
An article according to claim 12 wherein said outer layer comprises metal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
An article according to claim 13 wherein said outer layer comprises electrolytically deposited metal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
An article according to claim 12 wherein said outer layer comprises polymer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
93 words
An article comprising metal having a substantially smooth surface and substantially no pores of a volume greater than a 250 nanometer sided cube electrolessly deposited on a polymer surface having clusters of a Group 1B or Group 8 element, wherein said clusters have a nominal dimension of not greater than about 100 nanometers and wherein said clusters are provided by (a) exposing a catalytically inert polymeric surface which is substantially devoid of metal to energy whereby nascent clusters form by migration of metal ions to said surface, and (b) reducing said nascent clusters.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
93 words
An article comprising metal having a substantially smooth surface and substantially no pores of a volume greater than a 250 nanometer sided cube electrolessly deposited on a polymer surface having clusters of a Group 1B or Group 8 element, wherein said clusters have a nominal dimension of not greater than about 100 nanometers and wherein said clusters are provided by (a) exposing a catalytically inert polymeric surface which is substantially devoid of metal to energy whereby nascent clusters form by migration of metal ions to said surface, and (b) reducing said nascent clusters.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
An article having on at least a part of its surface a coating comprising oxidatively-resistant electrolessly deposited copper having a substantially smooth surface and substantially no pores of a volume greater than a 250 nanometer sided cube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
An article having on at least a part of its surface a coating comprising oxidatively-resistant electrolessly deposited copper having a substantially smooth surface and substantially no pores of a volume greater than a 250 nanometer sided cube.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
An article according to claim 17 wherein said copper is less than about 50 nanometers thick.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
An article according to claim 18 wherein said copper is less than about 20 nanometers thick.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A fiber coated with oxidatively-resistant electrolessly deposited copper having a substantially smooth surface and substantially no pores of a volume greater than a 250 nanometer sided cube.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A fiber coated with oxidatively-resistant electrolessly deposited copper having a substantially smooth surface and substantially no pores of a volume greater than a 250 nanometer sided cube.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
A fiber according to claim 20 comprising at least one other outer layer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
A fiber according to claim 21 wherein said outer layer is electrolytically deposited metal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
A fiber according to claim 21 wherein said outer layer is polymeric.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1154152A
Cited
US3904783A
Cited
US4082898A
Cited
US4169911A
Cited
US4201825A
Cited
US4169171A
Cited
US4220678A
Cited
US4439768A
Cited
US4379184A
Cited
US4481249A
Cited
US4542074A
Cited
US4508780A
Cited
US4497867A
Cited
US4564424A
Cited
US4568570A
Cited
US4554183A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-02-12 | 1993-08-14 | 1994-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-12 | 1997-08-14 | 1998-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-12 | 2001-08-14 | 2002-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |