A comparison of chemical and atmospheric plasma assisted copper plating on carbon fiber reinforced epoxy polymer surfaces

In the present study a comparison of two different surface pre-treatments and their influence on a subsequent surface metallization were studied. Standard electroless copper deposition involving initial etching in mild acid is thoroughly compared with the process where plasma pre-treatment replaced...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Surface & coatings technology 2014-11, Vol.258, p.1082-1089
Main Authors: Prysiazhnyi, V., Stupavská, M., Ráheľ, J., Kleber, C., Černák, M., Rafailović, L.D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Carbon fiber reinforced plastics
Carbon fiber reinforced polymer
Carbon-epoxy composites
Chemical pre-treatment
Coatings
Copper plating
Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science
rheology
Exact sciences and technology
Fibre reinforced metals
Materials science
Metallization
Metals. Metallurgy
Non-thermal plasma pre-treatment
Palladium
Physics
Powder metallurgy. Composite materials
Production techniques
Specific surface
Surface chemistry
Surface treatments
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:In the present study a comparison of two different surface pre-treatments and their influence on a subsequent surface metallization were studied. Standard electroless copper deposition involving initial etching in mild acid is thoroughly compared with the process where plasma pre-treatment replaced the mild acid etch. Specific surface co-planar type of dielectric barrier discharge was employed to provide a technologically feasible plasma pre-treatment of composites of carbon reinforced epoxy polymers. Results demonstrated both approaches being able to achieve excellent adhesion of final coating. In contrast to standard chemical pre-treatment, plasma pre-treatment is associated with changes of initial composite surface chemistry only. The purpose of plasma action in polymer pre-treatment is to provide ample amount of active surface sites where Pd ions can be attached effectively. XPS analysis revealed, that Pd atom on plasma treated surface takes the form of its oxide compounds PdO and PdO2 preferably, while its form on the surface of standard chemical pre-treatment is mostly metallic-Pd. •Pre-treatment of composite polymers was done by surface barrier discharged plasma.•Chemical pre-treatment was done by variations of chemical acid etches.•Formation of the oxy functional groups was favored after plasma pre-treatment.•Higher amount of Pd atoms and oxides was yielded after plasma pre-treatment.•Plasma and optimized chemical pre-treatments resulted in adhesive Cu layers.
ISSN:0257-8972
1879-3347
DOI:10.1016/j.surfcoat.2014.07.026