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Selective Electroless Copper Plating of Ink-Jet Printed Textiles Using a Copper-Silver Nanoparticle Catalyst
Golnaz Taghavi Pourian Azar1, Sofya Danilova2, Latha Krishnan1
1Functional Materials and Chemistry Research Group, Department of Engineering, Environment and Computing, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK.
Polymers
|September 9, 2022
Summary
Optimizing catalyst printing on polyester textiles enables selective metallization for reliable e-textiles. Careful control of printing design, direction, and cycles is crucial for desired conductivity and durability.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Textile Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Electroless copper plating offers selective metallization for advanced e-textiles.
- Applications span healthcare, sports, and military sectors requiring high-reliability electronics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To optimize inkjet printing of a copper-silver nanoparticle catalyst on polyester textiles.
- To investigate the impact of printing parameters on electroless copper plating for e-textile fabrication.
Main Methods:
- Inkjet printing of catalyst with varying cycles and directions.
- Characterization using TEM, UV/Vis, SEM, stiffness testing, and Launder Ometer.
- Analysis of copper mass gain, electrical resistance, morphology, and coverage.
Main Results:
- Printing design, direction, and cycles significantly affect conductivity, stiffness, and durability.
- Complete copper coating with uniform stiffness on both sides indicates process suitability.
- Optimized parameters are essential for achieving desired e-textile properties.
Conclusions:
- Careful optimization of catalyst printing is vital for producing high-performance e-textiles.
- Achieving uniform, conductive, and durable metallization requires precise control over printing parameters.
- The study provides indicators for assessing the suitability of the electroless plating process for e-textiles.
