Abstract: The invention relates to selective deposition of a nickel layer on a copper surface. The invention may be used in the production of electrically conductive areas for electronic circuits. Method for nickel deposition on the surface of copper comprises immersing an item, which surface is to be deposited with the nickel layer, into one or more baths, of which at least one contains a reducing agent and of which at least one is adapted for (electroless) plating of nickel. In order to extend the field of application and to obtain practically pure nickel coatings, said reducing agent comprises boronic or phosphoric compounds, comprising morpholine borane (C4H9BNO), or dimethylamine borane (C2H7BN), or sodium tetrahydroborate (NaBH4), or sodium hypophosphite (NaH2PO2) and said reducing agent directly or indirectly reduces insoluble copper (I) or copper (II) compounds on the copper surface. At least one of the mention baths comprises a ligand or mixture thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a production of electro-conductive traces on the surface of polymeric articles using laser excitation for the areas to be metallised, followed by activation of the laser-treated areas with a metal salt solution, the article is later rinsed in distilled water, and the activated areas are metallised in the chemical plating bath. The aims of the invention are to produce cost-effective conductive traces of the circuits for the application in 3D moulded interconnect devices, to increase the quality of the circuit traces improving the selective metallization process. An irradiation dose and scanning parameters for the surface excitation are chosen experimentally, provided that a negative static charge appears on the surface of the laser-irradiated areas. The chosen parameters ensure that any surface degradation of the polymer is avoided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a production of electro-conductive traces on the surface of polymeric articles using laser excitation for the areas to be metallised, followed by activation of the laser-treated areas with a metal salt solution, the article is later rinsed in distilled water, and the activated areas are metallised in the chemical plating bath. The aims of the invention are to produce cost-effective conductive traces of the circuits for the application in 3D moulded interconnect devices, to increase the quality of the circuit traces improving the selective metallization process. An irradiation dose and scanning parameters for the surface excitation are chosen experimentally, provided that a negative static charge appears on the surface of the laser-irradiated areas. The chosen parameters ensure that any surface degradation of the polymer is avoided.