Laser Activated and Electroless Metalized Polyurethane Coatings Containing Copper(II) L-Tyrosine and Glass Microspheres.

Polyurethane coatings containing copper(II) L-tyrosine and glass microspheres were laser irradiated and underwent electroless metallization. Various sizes of glass microspheres were incorporated into the polyurethane coating matrix in order to examine their effects on surface activation and electroless metallization. The surface of the coatings was activated by using ArF excimer laser emitting ultraviolet radiation (λ = 193 nm) using different number of laser pulses and their fluence. The effects of surface activation and metallization were evaluated mainly based on optical and scanning electron microcopies (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that the presence of glass microspheres enabled the reduction in copper complex content, intensified the ablation process (higher cone-like structures created) and resulted in higher content of copper metallic seeds. On the other hand, the glass microspheres concentration, which was higher for lower size microspheres, was advantageous for obtaining a fully metallized layer.

Copper Filled Poly(Acrylonitrile-co-Butadiene-co-Styrene) Composites for Laser-Assisted Selective Metallization.

Selective metallization of polymeric materials using the technique known as laser direct structuring (LDS) is intensively developed. In this technique, metallized products can be manufactured by injection molding or by 3D printing process if rapid prototyping is need. Special additives present in the polymer matrix enable direct electroless metallization only on the surface which was laser activated. This paper presents the results of using copper microparticles introduced into the poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (ABS) matrix at various amounts (up to about 5 vol %). ABS was selected due to its good processing and mechanical properties and as one of the most common thermoplastics used in 3D printing. The influence of copper on structural, mechanical, and processing properties as well as on the effects of laser surface activation were determined. Two types of infrared lasers were tested for surface activation: Nd:YAG fiber laser (λ = 1064 nm) and CO2 laser (λ = 10.6 µm). Various irradiation parameters (power, scanning speed, and frequency) were applied to find suitable conditions for laser surface activation and electroless metallization. It was found that the composites tested can be effectively metallized using the Nd:YAG laser, but only in a narrow range of radiation parameters. Activation with CO2 laser failed, regardless of applied irradiation conditions. It resulted from the fact that ablation rate and thickness of modified surface layer for CO2 were lower than for Nd:YAG laser using the same irradiation parameters (power, speed, and frequency of laser beams), thus the laser wavelength was crucial for successful surface activation.