Method for conditioning halogenated polymeric materials and structures fabricated therewith

A method for preparing a halogenated polymeric material-containing substrate for subsequent plating of a conductive metal thereon, which comprises:

• contacting at least portions of at least one major surface of said substrate with a reducing agent to thereby cause dehalogenation, then contacting said substrate with a composition containing a metal constituent wherein the metal is in the positive oxidation state to thereby provide catalytic sites at portions of said substrate contacted with said reducing agent;
• and contacting said substrate provided with said catalytic sites with an electroless plating bath to thereby provide a metallic layer at portions of the substrate.

A method for providing a metallic layer on a halogenated polymeric material-containing substrate which comprises:

• contacting at least portions of at least one major surface of said substrate with a reducing agent to thereby cause dehalogenation, and contacting said substrate with an electroless plating bath to thereby provide a metallic layer at portions of the substrate contacted with said reducing agent.