Inventors:
- St. Paul MN, US
David A. Sowatzke - Spring Valley WI, US
Steven Y. Yu - St. Paul MN, US
Gene B. Nesmith - Lago Vista TX, US
International Classification:
C25D 5/56
C23C 28/02
C23C 28/00
C23C 14/20
B32B 15/04
B32B 15/20
Abstract:
A plated article is provided comprising a) a polymeric substrate bearing b) a tie/seed layer in direct contact with the polymeric substrate and c) a plated metal layer, wherein the tie/seed layer has a thickness of less than 0.95 μm, and wherein the tie/seed layer comprises two or more layers of tin alternating with two or more layers of copper, and in some embodiments up to ten or more layers of tin alternating with ten or more layers of copper. In some embodiments, the tie/seed layer includes a layer of tin in direct contact with the polymeric substrate. Typically, the layers of tin and copper comprising the tie/seed layer are sputter coated layers. In some embodiments, the plated metal layer comprises an alloy of copper and tin. In some embodiments, the plated metal layer comprises layers comprised of tin alternating with layers comprised of copper.