Electroless copper plating on polyester fibres was investigated in this work to develop functional textiles. The surface modification of copper plated polyester fibres was characterised by the scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscope. A possible mechanism of electroless copper plating on polyester was proposed. The results showed that copper particles with high purity were uniformly deposited of polyester fibres and the copper film had a rather perfect crystal structure, demonstrating that electroless deposition was a suitable technique for the uniform deposition of copper.
MallolryG. O. and HajduJ. B.: ‘Electroless plating: fundamentals and Applications’: 1990, Orlando, FL, American Electroplaters and Surface Finishers Society.
2.
MittalK. L.: ‘Metallized plastics; 5 and 6 fundamental and Applied aspects’; 1998, Utrecht, VSP.
3.
RomankiwL. T.: Electrochim. Acta, 1997, 42, 2985–3005.
4.
Innovation 128: ‘Electromagnetic interference shielding — a materials perspective’, Technology Trend, Innovation 128, S. A. Paris, France, 1996.
