| Unwind | Pre-treatment | Pre-Plating | Main-Plating | Rewind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polyester fabric input | Degreasing · Pickling · Catalyst | Ni · Cu (Electroless) |
Cu · Ni (Electrolytic) |
Conductive fabric output |
| Stage | Process Steps | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Plating | 01 Degreasing → 02 Pickling → 03 Pre-dipping → 04 Catalyst → 05 Activation → 06 Electroless Nickel → 07 Copper Sulfate → 08 Dehydration → 09 Drying | Forms a uniform conductive layer on non-conductive polyester fabric |
| Main-Plating | 10 Copper Sulfate → 11 Electrolytic Nickel → 12 Electroless Nickel → 13 Dehydration → 14 Drying | Adjusts properties such as resistance |
| Item | Electroplating | Electroless |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Principle | External DC power | Spontaneous chemical reaction of the reducing agent in the plating bath |
| Applicable Materials | Conductors only | Conductors and catalyzed non-conductors (plastics · polyester) |
| Deposition Uniformity | Non-uniform depending on shape (excessive deposition on edges/protrusions) |
Independent of substrate shape — uniform, conformal deposition over the entire surface |
| Characteristics | Fast plating speed · low cost | Essential for metallizing non-conductors · excellent uniformity |
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| ① Etching | Selective etching creates micro-roughness on the surface — ABS: butadiene removal / Polyester: ethylene glycol removal |
| ② Catalyst | Pd (palladium) catalyst nuclei are applied to the surface |
| ③ Electroless Deposition | Metal ions in the electroless bath are reduced and deposited around the exposed Pd nuclei, growing uniformly over the surface |
| Metal Salt | Reducing Agent | Complexing Agent | pH Adjuster | Stabilizer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickel Sulfate (NiSO₄) | Sodium Hypophosphite (NaH₂PO₂) | Ammonium Chloride (NH₄Cl) | Ammonia (NH₃) | Thiosulfate |
| Base Polymer | Functional Additives | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Elastomer | Tackifier · Cross-linker · Softener · Antioxidant · Filler | High-performance PSA |
| Method | Feature | Detail | Diagram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slot Die | Precision | Metered dispensing through a slot die — uniform across the web · high-precision coating | ![]() |
| Comma | Thick film | Metered application with a comma knife — optimal for thick, uniform coating | ![]() |
| Gravure | Thin film | Precise transfer with a fine engraved roll — stable thin-film coating | ![]() |
| Micro-Gravure | Ultra-thin film | Uses a miniature engraved roll — ultra-thin, high-precision coating | ![]() |