Letter 3036

Palladium chloride as a pre-cursor for silver deposition 

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Could anybody assist me with information regarding successive process steps of stannous chloride then palladium chloride as a pre-cursor to silver deposition on non-conductive substrates?

David Bamber
UK

This can probably be done, but it is an unusual mixing of technologies. There are three different wet processing technologies that are commonly used to metallize non-conductors.

1). Applying a two-part silver reduction system. In this approach, a soluble silver salt and a reducing agent are simultaneously sprayed onto the substrate to deposit metallic silver. This is done as the first step in making stampers for vinyl records.

2). Applying a colloidal suspension of conductive granules, which can be graphite, copper, or silver. This is more or less painting the part with a conductive silver paint, and is often used to metallize flowers, leaves, and things like that.

3). The palladium chloride / stannous chloride system which is used to precede electroless copper or electroless nickel deposition on plastics, for use on such things as automotive brightwork.

I suppose it is possible to follow routine #3 with electroless copper, followed by electrolytic copper, and then electrolytic silver. However, this is done (to my knowledge) exclusively with proprietary sequences. You might want to talk to Enthone/OMI, Atotech, Shipley, or MacDermid.

I think you would also find the book "Standards and Guidelines for Electroplated Plastics" to be a big help.

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, NJ

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