Method of preparation and use of novel electroless plating catalysts

An active catalyst suitable for use in the preparation of non-conductors prior to electroless plating processes comprising a metal capable of electroless plating initiation resulting from the admixture of a weakly active colloidal dispersion of said metal or a compound of said metal or alloy of said metal containing a stabilizer therein with a reactivity modifier selected from the group consisting of surfactants and soluble halides.

A catalyst suitable for use in electroless plating processes comprising a catalytic metal capable of electroless plating initiaion resulting from the admixture of a weakly active colloidal dispersion of an hydrous metal oxide of said metal a stabilizer and a reactivity modifier selected from at least one member of the group consisting of surface active agent and a soluble halide.

A process for electroless plating a non-metallic substrates comprises of the steps of:

• a. cleaning said substrate,
• b. immersing said substrate in a colloidal catalytic primer composition comprising a catalytic metal capable of electroless plating initiation prepared by admixing a weakly active colloidal dispersion of said metal or a compound of said metal or alloy of said metal containing a stabilizer therein with a reactivity modifier selected from the group consisting or surfactants and soluble halides and
• c. immersing the substrate in an electroless plating bath.

An active catalytic formulation useful in electroless plating processes comprising the product of the admixture of a soluble metal salt, a lignosulfonate and an alkaline compound, wherein the metal of said metal salt is capable of electroless plating initiations.

A method for forming an active catalytic composition useful in electroless plating processes comprising the admixing a stable, weakly active colloidal dispersion with a reactivity modifier wherein said stable dispersion is prepared by the admixing and aging of a soluble metal salt of a catalytic metal, protein and an alkaline compound capable of electroless plating initiation and wherein said reactivity modifier is a surfactant.

A process for the preparation of non-metallic substrates prior to electroless plating comprises the steps of

• a. Immersing said substrate in a weakly active colloidal catalytic composition containing a stabilizer, and
• b. Immersing the substrate in a composition comprising a reactivity modifier wherein said reactivity modifier is a surfactant devoid of any reducing agent.