Electrically conductive metal-coated fibers, continuous process for preparation thereof, and use thereof
AssigneeSyscom Advanced Materials, Inc.
InventorsJar-Wha Lee, Ching Chang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In various embodiments, the present application provides electrically conductive metal-plated fibers and continuous processes of preparing metal-plated fibers. Additionally, provided are polymeric articles comprising the provided metal-plated fibers or other fibers prepared by the provided process, said articles having electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness.
Claims15
An electrically conductive metal-plated liquid crystalline polymer fiber, comprising:
- (a) a melt processable, thermotropic wholly aromatic liquid crystalline polymer fiber;
- (b) at least one coating of electroless-plated metal on the fiber of (a), the electroless-plated metal selected from nickel, copper, silver, and alloys thereof;
- and
- (c) optionally, at least one coating of electroplated metal on the fiber of (b), the electroplated metal selected from tin, nickel, copper, silver, gold, and alloys thereof.
A metal-plated melt processable wholly aromatic polyester liquid crystalline polymer fiber consisting essentially of repeating units of (I) and (II):
- the metal-plated fiber comprising:
- (a) at least one coating of electroless-plated metal on the fiber, the electroless-plated metal selected from nickel, copper, silver, and alloys thereof;
- and
- (b) at least one coating of electroplated metal on the fiber of (a), the electroplated metal selected from tin, nickel, copper, silver, gold, and alloys thereof;
- wherein at least one hydrogen of an aromatic ring of (I), (II), or both, may optionally be substituted with an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a halogen, or combinations thereof.
A continuous process for preparing metal-plated liquid crystalline polymer fibers, comprising:
- (a) etching the surface of a melt processable, thermotropic wholly aromatic liquid crystalline polymer fiber by contacting it with alkaline solution in the presence of ultrasonic agitation, wherein the alkaline solution does not comprise surfactant or solubilizer;
- (b) contacting the fiber of (a) with one or more electroless plating catalysts selected from salts of silver, nickel, gold, platinum, osmium, palladium, and rhodium;
- (c) contacting the fiber of (b) with a reducing solution;
- (d) electrolessly plating at least one coating of metal on the fiber of (c), the electroless-plated metal selected from nickel, copper, silver, and alloys thereof;
- and
- (e) optionally, electroplating at least one coating of metal on the fiber of (d), the electroplated metal selected from tin, nickel, copper, silver, gold, and alloys thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.