PROCESS FOR METALLIZING NONCONDUCTIVE PLASTIC SURFACES
The present invention relates to a process for metallizing nonconductive plastics using an etching solution free of hexavalent chromium. The etching solution is based on an sulphuric acidic solution comprising a source of chlorate ions and a vanadium compound. After the treatment of the plastics with the etching solution, the plastics are metallized by means of known processes.
1 - 9 . (canceled)
10 . Process for metallizing electrically nonconductive plastic surfaces of articles, comprising the process steps of:
A) etching the plastic surface with an etching solution Error! Reference source not found. comprising:
a) one or more chlorate ion sources,
b) one or more vanadium compounds, and
c) sulphuric acid;
B) treating the plastic surface with a solution of a metal colloid or of a compound of a metal, the metal being selected from the metals of transition group I of the Periodic Table of the Elements and transition group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and
C) metallizing the plastic surface with a metallizing solution.
11 . Process according to claim 10 , characterized in that the temperature during process step A) is kept between 20 and 65° C.
12 . Process according to claim 10 , characterized in that the temperature during process step A) is kept between 40 and 65° C.
13 . Process according to claim 10 , characterized in that the metal in process step B) is palladium.
14 . Process according to claim 10 ,
characterized in that the plastic surface has been manufactured from at least one electrically nonconductive plastic and the at least one electrically nonconductive plastic is selected from an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, a polyamide, a polycarbonate and a mixture of an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer with at least one further polymer.
15 . Process according to claim 10 , characterized in that the following further process step is performed between process steps A) and B):
A i) treating the plastic surface in a solution comprising a reducing agent for chlorate ions.
16 . Process according to claim 15 , characterized in that the reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of hydroxylammonium sulphate, hydroxylammonium chloride and hydrogen peroxide.
17 . Process according to claim 10 , characterized in that the following further process step is performed between process steps A) and B):
A i) treating the plastic surface in a solution comprising a neutralizing agent comprising a source of hydroxide ions.
18 . Process according to claim 10 , characterized in that the following further process steps are performed between process steps B) and C):
B i) treating the plastic surface in an aqueous acidic solution and
B ii) electrolessly metallizing the plastic surface in a metallizing solution.
19 . Process according to claim 15 , characterized in that the following further process steps are performed between process steps B) and C):
B i) treating the plastic surface in an aqueous acidic solution and
B ii) electrolessly metallizing the plastic surface in a metallizing solution.
20 . Process according to claim 17 , characterized in that the following further process steps are performed between process steps B) and C):
B i) treating the plastic surface in an aqueous acidic solution and
B ii) electrolessly metallizing the plastic surface in a metallizing solution.