Patent ID: 9617644
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: C23C,C25D

Claim:
1. A method for direct metallization of a non-conductive substrate, comprising: contacting the substrate with an aqueous metal-containing activator formulation comprising contacting the activated substrate with a conductor solution having a free alkalinity between 0.5 and 2 moles/liter, and comprising: the ratio of the sum of the molar concentration(s) of said counteranion(s) to the sum the molar concentration(s) of all reducing agents for said reducible metal ion in said conductor solution at the time of initial contact with said activated substrate is between about 0.70 and about 50, and the ratio of the total concentration of reducible metal ions to nickel ions is at least about 10; reducing said reducible metal ion by reaction with said oxidizable metal ion and by reaction with said reducing agent as catalyzed by said noble metal, thereby depositing a conductive layer comprising said another metal on said substrate wherein no further reduction and deposition of the reducible metal ions can occur at any location on the substrate where the reducible metal has already been deposited, wherein an accelerator solution is not used prior to contact with the conductor solution; and subsequent to depositing said conductive layer, electrolessly and/or electrolytically plating said another metal onto the substrate.