Abstract: Applications of a metallized textile. The textile is activated by precipitating noble metal nucleation sites on the fibers of the textile. Immersing the activated textile in a suitably prepared solution of a metal cation, and adding a reducing agent, leads to the formation of a metal plating tightly and intimately bonded to the fibers of the textile. Exposure of the metallized textile to air oxidizes the surface of the metal plating. Applications of the metallized textile include acaricides, fungicides, bactericides, armor, electrodes, anti-static devices, RF shielding, and radar reflectors.

Abstract: A process for activating a textile to catalyze the reduction of a metal cation, a process for metallizing the activated textile with the reduced metal, and the activated textile and metallized textile thereby produced. The textile is activated by precipitating noble metal nucleation sites on the fibers of the textile. Immersing the activated textile in a suitably prepared solution of a metal cation, and adding a reducing agent, leads to the formation of a metal plating tightly and intimately bonded to the fibers of the textile.