Selective polymer metalization for composite materials

Abstract

A process for creating a hybrid network of fibers comprises depositing a first polymer mixture (or solution) including a electroless plating initiator onto a collector. Simultaneously, a second polymer mixture (or solution) is deposited onto the collector while the first polymer mixture is being deposited. The second polymer mixture is not doped with a metal. A rate at which the first polymer mixture is deposited and a rate at which the second polymer mixture is deposited are controlled to control a ratio of metal-doped fibers and non-metal-doped fibers in a resulting hybrid network of fibers. The metal-doped fibers are created from the first polymer mixture and the non-metal-doped fibers are created from the second polymer mixture. After the fibers have been created, deposition of both the first polymer mixture and the second polymer mixture is stopped. The metal-doped fibers are metalized with a metal using electroless plating.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.