Abstract: A substrate holder capable of being used in both single-side plating and double-side plating is required. Disclosed is a substrate holder for holding a substrate to be plated. The substrate holder includes a first frame having a first opening for exposing one surface of the substrate and a second frame having a second opening for exposing the other surface of the substrate, and the substrate is sandwiched between the first frame and the second frame. The substrate holder further includes a dummy substrate which is detachably disposed between the first frame and the substrate and formed of a material that at least direct current does not substantially flow therein. At least a part of the dummy substrate is in contact with at least a part of the one surface of the substrate, and the dummy substrate protects the one surface of the substrate from a plating solution.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a piezoelectric/electrorestrictive film type device including a vibrating laminate obtained by laminating electrode films and piezoelectric/electrorestrictive films on a substrate containing a cavity. The method of producing the vibrating laminate includes: producing the substrate with a cavity, forming the first photoresist film on first principal surface of substrate, irradiating substrate from the second principal surface side of the substrate, transferring the plane shape of the cavity to the first photoresist film, developing and removing the first photoresist film formed in the region where the shape of cavity was formed, forming a lowermost electrode film by plating, and forming additional films other than the lowermost electrode film constituting the vibrating laminate.

Abstract: A metal covered polyimide composite comprising a tie-coat layer and a metal seed layer formed on a surface of a polyimide film by electroless plating or a drying method is provided. A copper layer or a copper alloy layer is formed thereon by electroplating. The copper plated layer or copper alloy plated layer includes three layers to one layer of the copper layer or copper alloy layer. The metal covered polyimide composite effectively prevents peeling in a non-adhesive flexible laminate (especially a two-layer flexible laminate), and more particularly, effectively inhibits peeling from the interface of a copper layer and tin plating. A method of producing the composite and apparatus for producing the composite are also provided.

Abstract: A method for fabricating one-dimensional metallic nanostructures comprises steps: sputtering a conductive film on a flexible substrate to form a conductive substrate; placing the conductive substrate in an electrolytic solution, and undertaking electrochemical deposition to form one-dimensional metallic nanostructures corresponding to the conductive film on the conductive substrate. The method fabricates high-surface-area one-dimensional metallic nanostructures on a flexible substrate, exempted from the high price of the photolithographic method, the complicated process of the hard template method, the varied characteristic and non-uniform coating of the seed-mediated growth method.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal polymer film based copper-clad laminate characterized in that a surface of one side or each of both sides of a liquid crystal polymer film has a nitrogen atom content of 10 at % or more, and a metal conductor layer formed by dry plating and/or wet painting is provided on the surface of the liquid crystal polymer film having the nitrogen atom content of 10 at % or more. The liquid crystal polymer film based copper-clad laminate is characterized by having arithmetic average roughness Ra of 0.15 ?m or less and a root-mean-square roughness Rq of 0.20 ?m or less as surface roughness of the liquid crystal polymer film. Also provided is a method for producing a liquid crystal polymer film based copper-clad laminate characterized by performing plasma processing on the surface of the liquid crystal polymer film under a nitrogen atmosphere at a gas pressure of 2.6 to 15 Pa, followed by forming the metal conductor layer by dry plating and/or wet plating.

Abstract: Provided is a metal covered polyimide composite comprising a tie-coat layer and a metal seed layer formed on a surface of a polyimide film by electroless plating or a drying method, and a copper layer or a copper alloy layer formed thereon by electroplating, wherein the copper plated layer or copper alloy plated layer comprises three layers to one layer of the copper layer or copper alloy layer, and there is a concentrated portion of impurities at the boundary of the copper layer or copper alloy layer when the copper layer or copper alloy layer is three layers to two layers, and there is no concentrated portion of impurities when the copper layer or copper alloy layer is a single layer. Additionally provided are a method of producing the composite and a method of producing an electronic circuit board.

Abstract: A method of surface modifying a polyimide film, a method of manufacturing a flexible copper clad laminate using the same, and a flexible copper clad laminate (FCCL) having a two-layer structure manufactured thereby. The method of surface modifying a polyimide film is conducted by modifying the surface of a polyimide film through a first plasma treatment, dipping the polyimide film into a solution containing an ethyleneimine-based silane coupling agent prepared by mixing the compound of Formula 1 and the compound of Formula 2 at a molar ratio of with 0.25˜1, and then modifying the surface of the polyimide film through a second plasma treatment. The method of surface modifying a polyimide film is advantageous because it may be substituted for a conventional surface treatment processes using ion beams.

Abstract: A method for applying a semi-dry electroplating method on a surface of plastic substrate is related to an electroplating method of plastic. which realizes the surface metallization of plastic materials, simplifies the electroplating procedure, dramatically reduces the amount of waste water, reduces the pollution to environment and expands electroplatable range of plastic substrates, is provided. Water-free cleaning and dust removal are conducted to a plastic substrate; a first-time activated treatment is conducted to the surface of the plastic substrate; a PVD plating metallic base layer, an alloy transition layer and a metallic electrical conductive layer are applied in turn on it, ultrasonic water washing and a second-time activated treatment are conducted on the treated plastic substrate; the treated plastic substrate is directly electroplated with acid copper or is moved to a nickel plating bath, and then complete the final surface treatment according to the actual process requirements.

Abstract: A method of preparing conductive ribs on a chassis includes steps as follows. A plastic case is provided with at least one elastic rib integrally formed thereon. Then, a conductive film is formed to overlay on both an inner surface of the plastic case and the surfaces of the elastic rib. A chassis with conductive ribs and a method of assembling an electric device including the same are also provided in the invention.

Abstract: There is provided a manufacturing method of an aluminum structure, including a conductive treatment process of forming an electrically conductive layer on a surface of a resin molded body, the electrically conductive layer being made of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, palladium, nickel, copper, cobalt, iron, and aluminum, and a plating process of plating the resin molded body subjected to the conductive treatment process with aluminum in a molten salt bath. The manufacturing method of an aluminum structure allows aluminum plating on the surface of even a porous resin molded body having a three-dimensional network structure. In particular, there is also provided a manufacturing method of an aluminum structure that can form porous aluminum having a large area.

Abstract: There is provided a manufacturing method of an aluminum structure, including a conductive treatment process of forming an electrically conductive layer made of aluminum on a surface of a resin molded body and a plating process of plating the resin molded body subjected to the conductive treatment process with aluminum in a molten salt bath. Even with a porous resin molded body having a three-dimensional network structure, the method allows the surface of the porous resin molded body to be plated with aluminum, thus forming a high-purity aluminum structure having a uniform thick film. Porous aluminum having a large area is also provided.

Abstract: An exemplary electrophoretic coating method and an electroplated shell (800) manufactured thereby is provided. The electrophoretic coating method includes the following steps. A first step (Step S1) is to mold a base shell (500). The base shell includes a base body (50), a shell body (60), and a connecting body (70). The shell body and the connecting body are molded with the base body. The connecting body connects with the shell body. A second step (Step S2) is to pretreat the shell body and the connecting body. Thus, conducting films are formed on the shell body and connecting body. A third step (Step S3) is to electrophoretically coat the preliminarily treated base shell, so as to form electroplated layers on the shell body. A fourth step (Step S4) is to remove the connecting body so as to form/yield the electroplated shell.

Abstract: In a manufacturing process for an injection molding plastic sheet with 3D texture, a mold with 3D texture is prepared, and then a plastic layer is formed by injection molding on the surface of the mold 3D texture. After the mold is released, a plastic board with 3D texture is formed. A photo-interfering layer is formed on the 3D texture of the plastic layer by vacuum electroplating or direct spraying. Finally, a protective layer with flat surface is formed on the photo-interfering layer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a polyimide laminate and a method for fabricating the same. In the disclosed method, a polyimide film having a thermally-conductive filler distributed homogenously therein is prepared, the polyimide film is characterized in having a thermal conductivity greater than 0.3 W/m-° C. Then, at least one metal film is subsequently deposited on one or both sides of the polyimide film by electroplating, electroless plating, evaporation, sputtering or lamination and thereby forming the desired polyimide laminate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a metal membrane filter (1) and to a method and apparatus for the production thereof. The metal membrane filter (1) has rectilinear, cylindrical filter pores (2), which are arranged statistically distributed on the metal membrane filter surface (3) in a density of from a single filter pore (2) per cm2 up to 107 filter pores (2) per cm2. The average diameter of the filter pores (2) is uniform for all filter pores (2) and is from a few tens of nm up to several micrometers. The metal membrane filter (1) comprises a metal electro-deposited with rectilinear, cylindrical filter pores (2) or a correspondingly electro-deposited metal alloy.

Abstract: This invention relates to polyolefin alloys that are receptive to metal plating. These compositions also have enhanced properties and are easily processed into articles by various molding methods. The blends of the invention preferably include a polyethylene component, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymer(s), and at least one styrene monoolefin copolymer. The invention also relates to articles containing such alloys, and to methods of forming such blends and articles containing the same. These blends have excellent platability and superior physical properties including enhanced stiffness and toughness.

Abstract: A composite flywheel rotor includes an annular rim mounted on a hub for high speed rotation in an evacuated flywheel enclosure. A smooth epoxy layer is applied to the rim and is cleaned or maintained clean in preparation for a metal coating on the rim. The rim may be baked in a vacuum furnace to drive off the volitiles and water vapor, and a thin metal coating is applied over the entire rim to retard outgassing from the resin in the flywheel composite rim. The metal coating on flywheel rim is preferably aluminum because aluminum adheres well to epoxy and is economical. The metal coating is deposited on the flywheel rim by physical vapor deposition and may be built up after an initial PVD coating by electroplating. A tough protective polymer is applied over the metal coating to protect metal coating from mechanical damage during handling.

Abstract: Disclosed is a processing method for forming a thick film having an improved adhesion to a surface-modified substrate and an apparatus thereof enabling to form a thick film having the improved adhesion to a polymeric surface by modifying the polymeric surface to have a hydrophilic property. The method includes the steps of preparing a substrate of a polymer material, surface-modifying the substrate, forming a seed layer on the substrate, and forming the thick film on the seed layer. The apparatus includes an unloading area supplying a substrate of a polymer material, a surface treating area modifying a surface of the substrate, a seed layer formation area forming a seed layer on the surface-modified substrate, a thick film formation area forming a thick film on the seed layer, and a loading area loading the substrate.

Abstract: A method for producing conductor coating on dielectric surface may be used in many areas of industry for preparation of dielectric surfaces for selective electroplating. Using this method, conductor coatings are obtained when dielectric items are etched in acidic solutions containing oxidising agents, then treated in trivalent bismuth compound solution and additionally treated in sulphide solution.

Abstract: This invention relates to polyolefin alloys that are receptive to metal plating. These compositions also have enhanced properties and are easily processed into articles by various molding methods. The blends of the invention preferably include polyolefin homopolymers or copolymers, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers, and a blend of at least one styrene monoolefin copolymer and at least one styrene diolefin copolymer. These blends have excellent platability and superior physical properties including enhanced rigidity, toughness, and dimensional stability.

Abstract: A stamper-forming electrode material contains Cu as its main ingredient and at least one other element, preferably Ag and/or Ti. It is preferred that the Ag content be 10.0 wt % or less and that the Ti content be 5.0 wt % or less. A stamper-forming thin film is made of this stamper-forming electrode material, whereby its corrosion resistance is improved to suppress damage to itself, and a high-quality stamper can hence be formed.

Abstract: A method of simultaneously electroplating both sides of a dual-sided circuit board substrate having electrically connected, multi-trace circuit patterns formed on both sides of the substrate, without requiring formation and at least partial removal of electrically conductive tie bars and associated extensions, comprises steps of simultaneously electrically contacting each feature of a first one of the circuit patterns with a multi-fingered electrical contactor, and applying an electrical potential to the contactor to effect simultaneous electroplating on the circuit patterns on both sides of the substrate. According to an embodiment of the invention, the multi-fingered contactor comprises an array of electrically conductive wires, rods, or filaments extending from one surface of a metal plate. The invention finds particular utility in the fabrication of ball grid array (BGA) semiconductor device packages.

Abstract: This invention relates to polyolefin alloys that are receptive to metal plating. These compositions also have enhanced properties and are easily processed into articles by various molding methods. The blends of the invention preferably include polyolefin homopolymers or copolymers, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers, and styrenic block copolymers. These blends have excellent platability and superior physical properties including enhanced rigidity, thoughness, and dimensional stability.

Abstract: A method of producing a multilayer circuit board comprising a core substrate and a plurality of layers of wiring lines on both sides of the core substrate with an insulation layer being interposed therebetween; the layers of wiring lines on both sides being interconnected by conducting members provided on the inside walls of through holes going through the core substrate, and the interposed insulation layer. The method further comprising, wiring lines with an upper layer of wiring lines wherein the conducting member on the inside wall of the through hole and the via are formed in separate steps. The method can provide a multilayer circuit board which can advantageously be used to mount a chip or device thereon having an increased number of electrodes or terminals.

Abstract: A method of electroplating circuit board substrate having a high density, multi-trace circuit pattern formed on at least one major surface of an insulative substrate, without requiring formation and at least partial removal of a large plurality of electrically conductive tie bars contacting each of the circuit traces for supplying electroplating potential/current, comprises providing the at least one major surface with a single tie bar having at least a pair of laterally extending arms in simultaneous electrical contact with an end of each trace. Portions of the tie bar extension arms are selectively removed after completion of electroplating, e.g., by laser drilling or plasma etching, to electrically separate each of the circuit traces from the tie bar. According to an embodiment of the invention, electroplating is simultaneously performed on a dual-sided substrate including electrically interconnected circuit patterns formed on opposite sides thereof.

Abstract: A cloth web is prepared by providing a plastic cloth with a metallic casing layer on both sides thereof by vapor deposition, plasma spraying or cathode sputtering, and then galvanically coating the resultant material with a metal coating.

Abstract: A method for producing a multiplicity of fastener element molding cavities extending from a mold surface, for molding a plastic product having fastener elements integrally molded with and extending from a product base, and a mold so produced. The mold cavities are formed by depositing multiple layers of plating material on a workpiece in a predetermined pattern selected to produce a desired mold cavity shape, or by depositing a thick stratum of plating material over an array of fastener elements and then removing the fastener elements to leave shaped cavities within the plating material. The mold may be in the form of a roll or belt for continuous processing, or in any form for discrete injection molding. Molds having fastener element cavities defined by rigid cast materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a method wherein, before forming a thin film of, for example, metal on a supporting base in a vacuum, a vapor stream of patterning material for forming a pattern in the thin film is applied from nozzle holes, and the thin film is formed after this liquid has been adhered onto the supporting base, the patterning material is applied from the nozzle holes in such manner that it unifies on the supporting base. Thus, even when the pattern width is enlarged, a pattern can be formed in which the blurring at the pattern edges is small.

Abstract: A process for electroplating a surface comprising copper and an insulating material, comprising: applying specific carbon particles or a palladium compound to this surface, microetching the copper to remove the specific carbon particles or the palladium compound, and providing electroplating. The process is characterized by using an aqueous solution comprising 5 to 60 wt % of sulfuric acid, 3 to 35 wt % of hydrogen peroxide, 0.01 to 10 wt % of a phosphonic group-containing amine or a salt thereof, and, optionally, 0.1 to 10 wt % of an amine other than the phosphonic group-containing amine, as a microetching agent. This process can ensure highly reliable electroplating to inner walls of printing wiring board through-holes.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell comprised of a tank for holding electrolytic solution, and a drum rotatable about a horizontal axis having a non-conductive cylindrical outer surface disposed within the tank, and a plurality of elongated, like anodes arranged about the outer surface of the drum. The anodes together form a generally continuous cylindrical surface spaced from, and generally conforming to, the outer surface of the drum. Each of the anodes has at least one end projecting through the tank. A plurality of power sources is provided together with connection means for connecting groups of one or more of the projecting ends of the anodes to each power source.

Abstract: A mask layer is formed on a conductive layer covering not only a central area assigned to integrated circuits but also a vacant peripheral area of a semiconductor wafer, and an electroplating system allows metallic miniature patterns to grow on the conductive layer over the vacant peripheral area as well as extremely small areas of the conductive layer over the central area so as to make current fluctuation negligible.

Abstract: A method comprising the steps of (a) preparing a divided copper oxide dispersion (4) including a solvent and a selected binder, (b) applying said dispersion to a non-conductive substrate (1) to form a film (5), (c) forming a Cu film (9) with a suitable reagent, and (d) electrolytically depositing at least one metal film (11) on said film (9).

Abstract: A vacuum metallized polyimide film comprising an aromatic polyimide layer containing a hydrocarbyl tin compound in oxidation states (II) or (IV) as an additive and a metal plated layer bonded integrally with a high bonding strength or high adhesion through a vacuum deposited metal layer without the use of an adhesive. The metallized polyimide film can be used for flexible printed circuits and multilayer printed wiring boards, as well as for heaters, antennas and antistatic films.

Abstract: A process for plating an electrically nonconductive substrate by the following sequence of steps:(1) a step of treating an electrically nonconductive substrate with a solution containing a silane coupling agent;(2) a step of treating the electrically nonconductive substrate from said step (1) with a solution containing an anionic surfactant;(3) a step of the electrically nonconductive substrate from said step (2) with a solution containing a palladium compound and at least one nitrogen-containing sulfur compound selected from among thiourea and its derivatives;(4) a step of treating the electrically nonconductive substrate from said step (3) with a reducing solution containing at least one member selected from among sodium borohydride, sodium hypophosphite, hydrazine, dimethylaminoborane, hydroxylamine and glyoxylic acid; and(5) a step of forming an electroplating layer on the electrically nonconductive substrate from said step (4).

Abstract: Process for through-hole plating of printed circuit boards and multilayers by applying a conductive layer of a polythiophene onto the walls of the through-holes and electrodeposition of copper onto the walls of the through-holes, characterized in that a microemulsion of a monomeric thiophene of the formula (I) is used to form the conductive polythiophene layer, ##STR1## in which X denotes oxygen or a single bond,R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 mutually independently denote hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group or together form an optionally substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylene residue or a 1,2-cyclohexylene residue,and in that the conductive layer of polythiophene is produced on the walls of the through-holes by subsequent or simultaneous treatment with acid and, finally, a metal is electro-deposited on this conductive base.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for directly electroplating a conductive metal to the inner walls of through-holes in printed-wiring boards. The process comprises steps of providing an aqueous dispersion containing graphite particles with an average particle diameter of 2 .mu.m or less or carbon black particles with an average particle diameter of 1 .mu.m or less; applying this aqueous dispersion to a surface of a nonconductive surface substrate; dipping the nonconductive surface in a strong acidic aqueous solution with pH 3 or lower to form a layer of said particles; and electroplating using the particle layer as a conductive layer.

Abstract: A process for forming an electroconductive thin-film coil element uses an InNi alloy film which is heated to a temperature above its melting point and melted off together with an electrode used for electroplating.

Abstract: The modification of carbon particles is disclosed for achieving enhanced plating upon a non-conductive surface which has been previously treated with said modified carbon particles. The invention is particularly useful in plating through holes of printed circuit boards.

Abstract: A process for patterned electroplating involves the steps of: (i) coating a substrate with a layer of hydroxyquinoline which acts as an adhesion promoter; (ii) coating the adhesion layer with a radiation sensitive polymeric resist; (iii) imagewise exposing the film to radiation; (iv) developing the image to patternwise expose the substrate; (v) electroplating metal onto the exposed portions of the substrate; and (vi) removing the remaining polymeric film from the substrate.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method of forming a multi-element, thin hot film sensor on a polyimide film. The sensor is formed by first cleaning one surface of the polyimide. Then, under a continuous vacuum, the surface is simultaneously cleaned by ion bombardment while nickel is deposited by evaporation. The ion beam cleaning is discontinued and copper is then deposited to an initial thickness by evaporation without a break in the vacuum. The vacuum is then removed and a final thickness of copper is deposited by plating. Sensor patterns are then defined in the nickel and copper layers using conventional photolithography and etching techniques.

Abstract: Metallization under vacuum, on at least one face of a plastic film so as to give a substrate including a metallic surface, which substrate is sufficiently electrically conductive to permit a uniform electrochemical deposit. The latter is carried out by electrochemical plating, of at least one metal, on the metallized surface starting from an electrolytic solution, so as to give a thin metallic film having a metal thickness between 0.1 and 4 microns. The metallized substrate is selected so as to be compatible and to facilitate the step of electrochemical plating. The thin metallic sheet obtained is adherent to and supported by the plastic film. The metallic sheet may be used as current collectors for polymer electrolyte lithium batteries, as multi-layer film used as wrapping material permeable to gases and humidity, as a screen for light, flexible conductors, etc.

Abstract: A flexible metal-film laminate can comprise a layered film structure having a metal layer securely bonded to a film layer. The laminate contains a unique metal-oxide attachment structure between the film and metal layer comprising randomly distributed regions of metal-oxide. The peel strength of such a laminate is significantly improved over prior laminates and is resistant to peel strength reduction due to environmental stress. The preferred metal-film laminates made with polyester or polyimide can be used in the manufacture of high-quality, low cost, flexible printed circuit boards.