MULTILAYER STRUCTURE, AND A METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME

1 . A multilayer structure comprising:

at least one substrate layer comprising a polymeric material;

at least one adhesion layer, wherein said adhesion layer is derived from a adhesion promoter composition comprising:

at least one epoxy resin solution;

at least one hardening agent;

optionally at least one leveling agent;

at least one toughening agent;

at least one filler; and

at least one or more solvents;

at least one surface layer comprising a plating metal;

wherein said adhesion layer is disposed therebetween said at least one substrate layer and said at least one surface layer.

2 . A method for making a multilayer structure comprising the steps of:

providing at least one substrate layer comprising a polymeric material;

providing an adhesion promoter composition comprising:

at least one epoxy resin solution;

at least one hardening agent;

optionally at least one leveling agent;

at least one toughening agent;

at least one filler; and

at least one or more solvents;

applying said adhesion promoter composition to at least one surface of said at least one substrate layer;

thereby forming a coated substrate layer comprising at least one adhesion layer associated with said at least one substrate layer;

vacuum plating at least one surface layer comprising a plating metal onto one surface of said coated substrate layer;

thereby forming said multilayer structure, wherein said adhesion layer is disposed therebetween said at least one substrate layer and said at least one surface layer.

3 . Any of the claims of 1 or 2 , wherein said adhesion layer has a thickness in the range of from 5 to 50 μm.

4 . Any of the claims of 1 or 2 , wherein the adhesion promoter composition comprises from 20 to 65 percent by weight of the epoxy resin solution, from 20 to 50 percent by weight of said hardening agent, from 0.5 to 10 percent by weight of said toughening agent, and from 0 to 10 percent by weight of said leveling agent, and from 0.1 to 10 percent by weight of the at least one filler, and from 10 to 80% by weight of the at least one solvent, based on the total weight of the adhesion promoter composition.

5 . Any of the claims of 1 or 2 , wherein the plating metal is selected from the group consisting of Zn, Al, Cr, Cu, Ti, and Ni.

6 . Any of the claims of 1 or 2 , wherein the polymeric material is a fiberglass reinforced nylon.

7 . Any of the claims of 1 or 2 , wherein the at least one surface layer comprising a plating metal has a thickness in the range of from 5 to 20 μm.

8 . An article comprising the multilayer structure of either claim 1 or 2 .