Electroless deposition of metal on 3D-printed polymeric structures
| DWPI Title: Method for metallizing three-dimensional-printed polymeric structure for use in e.g. fuel cells, involves soaking polymeric structure in metal salt solution and transferring three-dimensional polymeric structure to solution |
| Abstract: A process for metallizing a three-dimensional-printed polymeric structure includes soaking the three-dimensional-printed polymeric structure in a metal salt solution; transferring the three-dimensional polymeric structure to a solution comprising a first reducing agent; soaking the three-dimensional polymeric structure in a metal plating bath, the metal plating bath comprising a coordinating agent, a palladium or platinum salt, a pH buffer component, and a second reducing agent, to form a metal plated polymeric structure. A metal plated porous structure and an apparatus for improving metallization are also disclosed. |
| Use: Method for metallizing three-dimensional-printed polymeric structure for use in fuel cells, batteries, electrochemical capacitor, separators, catalysts, chemical reactors, medical implants and mechanical engineering applications such as aerospace materials. |
| Advantage: The method enables metallizing three-dimensional-printed polymeric structure with enhanced density and surface area and flow properties, and enhanced mechanical and structural properties. |
| Novelty: A three-dimensional-printed polymeric structure metallizing method involves soaking a three-dimensional-printed polymeric structure in a metal salt solution, transferring the three-dimensional polymeric structure to a solution and soaking the three-dimensional polymeric structure in a metal plating bath to obtain the finished product, where the solution comprises first reducing agent and the metal plating bath comprises coordinating agent, palladium or platinum salt, pH buffer component and second reducing agent. The polymeric structure comprises polymer that is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer, acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate copolymer, and poly(methyl methacrylate). |
| Filed: 8/8/2017 |
| Application Number: US15671345A |
| Tech ID: SD 13868.0 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
| Data from Derwent World Patents Index, provided by Clarivate All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Clarivate content, including by framing or similar means, is prohibited without the prior written consent of Clarivate. Clarivate and its logo, as well as all other trademarks used herein are trademarks of their respective owners and used under license. |