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Nickel electroplating on polyaniline (conductive polymer)

For a nickel electroforming application I'm looking to replace my PVD plating base with a conductive polymer such as polyaniline. Has anyone tried this, and what was the result? How about the adhesion?

Jacques Jonsmann
Development engineer - Copnehagen, Denmark
2004

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A very nice idea, but the problem with polyaniline is that its conductivity is a couple of orders of magnitude less than for most metal. Other conducting polymers, such as PEDOT and doped polyacetylenes, are approaching the conductivity of metal, but they have other issues and problems associated with them. The problem with having such low conductivity is that once a metal layer has been put onto the polyaniline, you will get preferential deposition on the metal and not on the polymer. I think you have an excellent idea, but unfortunately, I think you are about 10 years ahead of your time; let the conducting polymer sector catch up with your ideas! There are a lot of really exciting things going on in the conducting polymer industry, but there are also many more barriers to overcome before they will replace all metals.

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2004

I would be interested in following up the subject, very interesting.

Jagdish Anandjiwala
Graveur and Flexo rollers - Toronto,Ontario, Canada
April 5, 2011