US5211803A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Producing metal patterns on a plastic surface
Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
•
Filing: 1992-03-23
•
Granted: 1993-05-18
•
Expires: 2012-03-23
Abstract
Abstract Poly(arylene sulfide) articles having plated metal paths thereon are disclosed. A pattern of areas of lesser crystallinity and areas of higher crystallinity is created in the polymer morphology of a surface of the article. The surface is then exposed to a chemical etchant selectively active upon the areas of lesser crystallinity thereby etching those areas of lesser crystallinity while leaving areas of higher crystallinity substantially unaffected. Then a conductive metal is deposited on the etched areas of lesser crystallinity by an electroless plating process. Subsequent electroplating can also be used.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy W. Johnson
- 👤 Mark L. Stone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:57
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C18/00; C23C18/16; C23C18/18; C23C18/20; C23C18/2006; C23C18/2026; C23C18/2033; C23C18/1601; C23C18/1603; C23C18/1607; C23C18/1608; C23C18/1633; C23C18/1635; C23C18/1639; C23C18/1641; C23C18/22; C23C18/28; C23C18/285; C23C18/30; C23C18/31; C23C18/38; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/10; H05K3/18; H05K3/181; H05K3/182; H05K3/185; C23C18/1646; C23C18/165; C23C18/1653; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/03; H05K1/0313; H05K1/032; H05K1/0333; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/10; H05K2203/107
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for producing recessed plates paths on an article, comprising: (a) creating a pattern of areas of lesser crystallinity and areas of higher crystallinity in the polymer morphology of a surface of a poly(arylene sulfide) article; (b) exposing said surface to a chemical etchant selectively active upon said areas of lesser crystallinity and thereby etching said areas of lesser crystallinity while leaving said areas of higher crystallinity substantially unaffected so that said areas of lesser crystallinity become recessed with respect to said areas of higher crystallinity; and (c) after step (b), depositing a conductive metal on said recessed, etched areas of lesser crystallinity by electroless plating.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for producing recessed plates paths on an article, comprising: (a) creating a pattern of areas of lesser crystallinity and areas of higher crystallinity in the polymer morphology of a surface of a poly(arylene sulfide) article; (b) exposing said surface to a chemical etchant selectively active upon said areas of lesser crystallinity and thereby etching said areas of lesser crystallinity while leaving said areas of higher crystallinity substantially unaffected so that said areas of lesser crystallinity become recessed with respect to said areas of higher crystallinity; and (c) after step (b), depositing a conductive metal on said recessed, etched areas of lesser crystallinity by electroless plating.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: said step (a) is further characterized in that said surface is initially a crystalline surface and step (a) includes selectively treating said surface to form said areas of lesser crystallinity where said surface is treated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 2, wherein: said step (a) is further characterized in that said selective treating is performed by selectively exposing said surface to an electron beam to form said areas of lesser crystallinity where said surface is exposed to said electron beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: said step (a) is further characterized in that said surface is initially a non-crystalline surface and step (a) includes selectively treating said surface to form said areas of higher crystallinity where said surface is treated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 4, wherein: said step (a) is further characterized in that said selective treating is performed by selectively heating said surface to form said areas of higher crystallinity where said surface is heated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5, wherein: said step (a) is further characterized in that said accomplished with a laser beam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 4, wherein: said step (a) is further characterized in that said selective treating is performed by selectively exposing said surface to a solvent to form said areas of higher crystallinity where said surface is exposed to said solvent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: said step (b) is further characterized in that said chemical etchant is nitrosonium hexafluorophosphate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8, wherein: said step (b) is further characterized in that said nitrosonium hexafluorophosphate is in a solvent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 9, wherein: said step (b) is further characterized in that said nitrosonium hexafluorophosphate is present in said solvent in a concentration of at least about 3% wt/vol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 9, wherein: said step (b) is further characterized in that said nitrosonium hexafluorophosphate is present in said solvent in a concentration of at least about 4% wt/vol.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 9, wherein: said step (b) is further characterized in that said solvent is a 70/30 nitromethane/methylene chloride mixture.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein: said step (c) is further characterized in that said metal is copper.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said poly(arylene sulfide) is poly(phenylene sulfide).
Claim 16
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of forming recessed material patterns on a surface of a poly(phenylene sulfide) article, comprising: (a) tracing a pattern on the surface of said article with an electron beam, said pattern being of lesser crystallinity than a remainder of said surface; (b) exposing said surface to a chemical etchant selectively active on said pattern of lesser crystallinity so that said pattern of lesser crystallinity is recessed with respect to said remainder of said surface and thereby etching said pattern of lesser crystallinity; and (c) depositing a conductive metal on said etched pattern of lesser crystallinity by electroless plating to produce a recessed metal pattern on said surface.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of forming recessed material patterns on a surface of a poly(phenylene sulfide) article, comprising: (a) tracing a pattern on the surface of said article with an electron beam, said pattern being of lesser crystallinity than a remainder of said surface; (b) exposing said surface to a chemical etchant selectively active on said pattern of lesser crystallinity so that said pattern of lesser crystallinity is recessed with respect to said remainder of said surface and thereby etching said pattern of lesser crystallinity; and (c) depositing a conductive metal on said etched pattern of lesser crystallinity by electroless plating to produce a recessed metal pattern on said surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15, wherein: said step (b) is further characterized in that said chemical etchant is nitrosonium hexafluorophosphate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 16, wherein: said step (b) is further characterized in that said nitrosonium hexafluorophosphate is in a solvent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 17, wherein: said step (b) is further characterized in that said nitrosonium hexafluorophosphate is present in said solvent in a concentration of at least about 3% wt/vol.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 17, wherein: said step (b) is further characterized in that said nitrosonium hexafluorophosphate is present in said solvent in a concentration of at least about 4% wt/vol.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 17, wherein: said step (b) is further characterized in that said solvent is a 70/30 nitromethane/methylene chloride mixture.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15, wherein: said step (c) is further characterized in that said metal is copper.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for producing recessed plates paths on an article, comprising: (a) creating a pattern of areas of lesser crystallinity and areas of higher crystallinity in the polymer morphology of a surface of a poly(arylene sulfide) article; (b) exposing said surface to a chemical etchant selectively active upon said areas of lesser crystallinity and thereby etching said areas of lesser crystallinity while leaving said areas of higher crystallinity substantially unaffected so that said areas of lesser crystallinity become recessed with respect to said areas of higher crystallinity; and (c) after step (b), depositing a conductive metal on said recessed, etched areas of lesser crystallinity by electroless plating by: (c) (1) exposing said surface to a catalyst bath; (c) (2) wiping said surface to remove catalyst from said areas of higher crystallinity while leaving catalyst in said etched areas of lesser crystallinity; (c) (3) depositing said conductive metal from a plating solution on said etched areas of lesser crystallinity containing said catalyst.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for producing recessed plates paths on an article, comprising: (a) creating a pattern of areas of lesser crystallinity and areas of higher crystallinity in the polymer morphology of a surface of a poly(arylene sulfide) article; (b) exposing said surface to a chemical etchant selectively active upon said areas of lesser crystallinity and thereby etching said areas of lesser crystallinity while leaving said areas of higher crystallinity substantially unaffected so that said areas of lesser crystallinity become recessed with respect to said areas of higher crystallinity; and (c) after step (b), depositing a conductive metal on said recessed, etched areas of lesser crystallinity by electroless plating by: (c) (1) exposing said surface to a catalyst bath; (c) (2) wiping said surface to remove catalyst from said areas of higher crystallinity while leaving catalyst in said etched areas of lesser crystallinity; (c) (3) depositing said conductive metal from a plating solution on said etched areas of lesser crystallinity containing said catalyst.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 22 wherein: said step (c) is further characterized in that said metal is copper.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
163 words
A method for forming recessed metal patterns on a surface of a poly(phenylene sulfide) article, comprising: (a) tracing a pattern on the surface of said article with an electron beam, said pattern being of lesser crystallinity than a remainder of said surface; (b) exposing said surface to a chemical etchant selectively active on said pattern of lesser crystallinity so that said pattern of lesser crystallinity is recessed with respect to said remainder of said surface and thereby etching said pattern of lesser crystallinity; and (c) depositing a conductive metal on said etched pattern of lesser crystallinity by electroless plating to produce a recessed metal pattern on said surface by: (c) (1) exposing said surface to a catalyst bath; (c) (2) wiping said surface to remove catalyst from said remainder of said surface while leaving catalyst in said etched pattern of lesser crystallinity; and (c) (3) depositing said conductive metal from a plating solution on said etched pattern of lesser crystallinity containing said catalyst.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
163 words
A method for forming recessed metal patterns on a surface of a poly(phenylene sulfide) article, comprising: (a) tracing a pattern on the surface of said article with an electron beam, said pattern being of lesser crystallinity than a remainder of said surface; (b) exposing said surface to a chemical etchant selectively active on said pattern of lesser crystallinity so that said pattern of lesser crystallinity is recessed with respect to said remainder of said surface and thereby etching said pattern of lesser crystallinity; and (c) depositing a conductive metal on said etched pattern of lesser crystallinity by electroless plating to produce a recessed metal pattern on said surface by: (c) (1) exposing said surface to a catalyst bath; (c) (2) wiping said surface to remove catalyst from said remainder of said surface while leaving catalyst in said etched pattern of lesser crystallinity; and (c) (3) depositing said conductive metal from a plating solution on said etched pattern of lesser crystallinity containing said catalyst.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 24 wherein: said step (c) is further characterized in that said metal is copper.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3354129A
Cited
CA1072217A
Cited
US4109029A
Cited
US4199408A
Cited
US4375427A
Cited
US4344870A
Cited
US4395497A
Cited
US4382882A
Cited
US4407739A
Cited
US4532152A
Cited
US4452727A
Cited
US4532015A
Cited
US4462929A
Cited
US4654225A
Cited
US4560580A
Cited
US4447471A
Cited
US4540631A
Cited
US4555414A
Cited
US4666735A
Cited
US4540620A
Cited
US4527219A
Cited
US4486463A
Cited
US4615907A
Cited
US4812275A
Cited
US5015519A
Cited
US4812353A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-17 | 1996-11-16 | 1997-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-17 | 2000-11-16 | 2001-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-17 | 2004-11-16 | 2005-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |