Patent ID: 6743501
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: C08G,C25D,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A complex porous structure of reticulated material produced by a process comprising:electroplating said material with metal substantially throughout its entire thickness, over all its developed surface, subsequent to pre-metallizing, pre-metallizing comprising depositing a homogeneous and continuous coating of conductive polymer on the surface of the openings of the structure, said depositing comprising: (1) oxidising a base structure comprising pores, consisting of a reticulated cellular structure of high porosity greater than 80%, with a solution containing permanganate/manganate salts and/or cerium IV compounds, this oxidising step leading to the formation of a layer of manganese dioxide at surface of the base structure; (2) rinsing and drying (3) depositing in a wet phase, on surfaces of the base structure, a monomer which in polymerized form is electrically conductive; (4) polymerisation by oxidation-doping of the monomer into an electrically conductive polymer; and (5) rinsing, wherein said steps are carried out on the base structure, substantially throughout its entire thickness, without clogging the pores of the base structure.