Abstract: A method for the metallization of a nonconductive surface with gold, nickel or copper whereby on a nonconductive, relatively low temperature surface (such as a polyester or a polyolefin) a thermosensitive coordination complex of palladium (or platinum) is deposited from a solvent; the complex has the general formula LmPdXn wherein L is a ligand or unsaturated organic radical, X is a halide, alkyl group or a bidentate ligand and m is an integer from 1 to 4 and n is from 0 to 3; bis-benzonitrile palladium dichloride complex is an appropriate illustration; the palladium complex is applied in a thin film from a suitable nonaqueous solution solvent such as xylene, toluene or a chlorobenzene onto the surface of the nonconductive material and that thin film is thermally decomposed, such as by an infrared irradiation; the method in the preferred embodiment can be practiced without the necessity of surface etching or similar chemical conditioning of the polyester, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, or polyolefin substrate

Abstract: A solvent method for the metallization of a non-conductive surface with gold, nickel or copper is shown whereby on a substrate a thermosensitive coordination complex of palladium is deposited; the complex has the formula LmPdXn wherein L is a ligand or unsaturated organic radical, X is a halide, alkyl group or a bidentate ligand and m is an integer from 1 to 4 and n is from 0 to 3; trimethyl phosphite palladium dichloride complex is an appropriate illustration of the complex; the palladium complex is applied on the substrate in a suitable non-aqueous solution such as tetrahydrofuran solution; the complex is then baked in air at elevated temperature; the exposure to high temperature decomposes the complex leaving a residue which is catalytic to the deposition of gold, nickel, cobalt or copper from an electroless bath thereof; the non-conductive material is then immersed in an electroless bath to metallize the areas which have been rendered catalytic; the preferred thermosensitive coordination complex of pallad