Process for treating hydrophobic surfaces
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorJohn M. Preston
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process treats a normally hydrophobic polymeric surface with a special phosphoric acid composition having a P.sub.2 O.sub. 5 concentration of 70-82% to make the polymeric surface hydrophilic and thus receptive to metal coatings. The process is especially suitable for surfaces of fluorocarbon polymers, such as tetrafluoroethylene and trifluorochloroethylene, and copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene.
Claims9
A process for making the hydrophobic surface of a polymeric material hydrophilic which comprises treating the polymeric surface with an MPA concentrate having a P.sub.2 O.sub.5 concentration of 70-82%.
A process for making the hydrophobic surface of a polymeric material hydrophilic and receptive to a metal plating which comprises:
- a. contacting the polymeric material with an alkaline cleaner solution for a period of 1-3 minutes at a temperature of about 60.degree. C.;
- b. water rinsing the polymeric material for a period of 1-3 minutes;
- c. immersing the polymeric material in an MPA concentrate having a P.sub.2 O.sub.5 concentration of 70-82% at a temperature of 100.degree.-140.degree. C. for a period of ten minutes to eight hours;
- d. water rinsing the polymeric material for a period of 1-3 minutes;
- and
- e. plating the polymeric material with a suitable metal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.