Plating process

Abstract

A process for making an electronic device which comprises applying a non-aqueous plate-resistant ink by ink jet printing to selected areas of a dielectric substrate, optionally laminated with an electrically conductive metal(s), exposing the plate resistant ink to actinic and/or particle beam radiation to effect polymerisation, adding one or more metal layers by electrolytic or electroless deposition, the upper layer of which is an etch-resistant metal(s), removing the polymerised plate-resistant ink with alkali and finally removing the electrically conductive metal(s) which are optionally directly laminated to the dielectric substrate and not protected by an upper layer of etch-resistant metal(s) by chemical etching wherein the plate-resistant ink is substantially solvent-free and comprises: A) 30 to 90 parts acrylate functional monomers free from acid groups comprising mono- or higher functionality wherein 5 to 95% by weight are mono-functional monomers; B) 1 to 30 parts acrylate functional monomer containing one or more acid groups; C) 0 to 20 parts polymer or prepolymer; D) 0 to 20 parts radical initiator; E) 0 to 5 parts colorant; F) 0 to 5 parts surfactant; and where the ink has a viscosity of not greater than 30 cPs (mPa·s) at 40° C. and all parts are by weight.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.