Method for Partially Metallizing a Product

Method for the selective surface metallization of a product having a first surface of a first polymeric material, and a second surface of a second polymeric material, the method comprising the sequential steps of:

• a) exposing said first and second surface to conditions which render the first surface hydrophilic or substantially compatible with water or aqueous solutions, and which render the second surface hydrophobic or substantially incompatible with water or aqueous solutions;
• b) contacting said first and second surface with water or an aqueous solution;
• c) contacting said first and second surface with a solution of a film former in a water-immiscible organic solvent;
• d) evaporating said solvent to allow the formation of a film by said film former on said second surface, while the adherence of a film by said film former on said first surface is essentially prevented by the presence of the water or aqueous solution thereon, and optionally contacting said first and second surface with water or an aqueous solution to remove said film from said first surface;
• e) performing a metallization process to deposit a metal layer on said first and second surface, said process preferably involving a nucleation of said surfaces with catalytic nuclei, most preferably a Sn/Pd nucleation, in combination with electroless metallizing, and
• f) removing said metallized film from said second surface to render said first surface metallized.