| abstract |
Autocatalytic deposition is a type of electroless plating in which a metal, such as cobalt, nickel, gold, silver or copper, is deposited on a substrate through a chemical reduction process. Typically, coatings introduced from this process are more homogeneous and more adhesive than those introduced from other processes, and they are usually applied to unusually shaped surfaces. Can do. Usually, non-metallic surfaces can only be coated through this step following proper sensitization of the substrate. Thus, the present invention provides for the subsequent autocatalytic deposition of metal coatings that reduces the need for surface preparation by using reducible silver salts with suitable fillers in printable ink formulations. A method for preparing a substrate material is provided. Autocatalytic deposition can be used to coat the entire surface, or a predetermined pattern can be deposited by known printing methods. |