An environmentally friendly plasma amination process for the activation of polymers prior to electroless metallization using dielectric barrier discharges (DBD) at atmospheric pressure was investigated. One focus of the work was on the correlation between plasma parameters and palladium coverage on the polymer on the one hand and the palladium coverage and adhesion of a galvanic copper metallization on the other hand. Using XPS spectroscopy it was found that a DBD treatment of polyimide (PI) films with mixtures of N2 and H2 leads to considerably higher Pd surface concentrations than on untreated reference samples or foils treated in air‐DBD. The Pd coverages achieved result in peel strengths of a copper metallization of up to 1.4 N · mm−1.
Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to present details of the plasma printing and packaging technology (P 3 T), a new reel-to-reel technology under development for the cost and resource efficient manufacture of flexible printed circuits (FPC). Design/methodology/approach -The first two process steps of P 3 T include reel-to-reel patterned activation of polymer film at ambient pressure in the so-called plasma-printing process and subsequent selective electroless plating of the plasma-activated areas of the polymer film. The concept underlying the P 3 T project includes processing of flexible films with widths up to 400 mm. Findings -Copper, palladium and nickel metal structures with widths down to less than 100 mm were produced on various polymers. Peel strengths according to the German DIN Standard 53494 of copper on polyimide film reached values in the region of 1 N/mm, sufficient for electronic applications. Sufficient wetting of the solder on copper metallisations and solderability were found. Research limitations/implications -P 3 T covers the whole manufacturing chain for FPCs from surface patterning of the dielectric carrier to component assembly and soldering. This paper focuses, however, essentially on the first two process steps including plasma activation and electroless plating. Originality/value -A unique feature of the flexible circuit manufacturing technology presented here is the combination of the additive-technique, the absence of vacuum processes, the continuous production mode and the ability to process polymer carrier films with widths of 400 mm.
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