A method for providing electrically-conductive silver-containing metal in a thin film or one or more thin film patterns on a substrate. Electrically-conductive metallic silver is provided from a non-hydroxylic-solvent soluble silver complex represented by the following formula (I):
(Ag.sup.+).sub.a(L).sub.b(P).sub.c (I)
wherein L represents an -oxy carboxylate; P represents a 5- or 6-membered N-heteroaromatic compound; a is 1 or 2; b is 1 or 2; and c is 1, 2, 3, or 4, provided that when a is 1, b is 1, and when a is 2, b is 2. A photosensitizer can also be present. The reducible silver ions in the photosensitive thin film or photosensitive thin film pattern can be photochemically converted to electrically-conductive metallic silver in the thin films or thin film patterns by irradiation with electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength within the range of at least 150 nm and up to and including 700 nm.

A method of forming a metal pattern includes forming a catalyst adsorption layer by bringing a surface of a substrate into contact with a solution, the substrate having a base region and a plurality of protrusions provided on the base region, the base region includes a first material, the protrusions includes a second material different from the first material, the first and the second material being exposed on the surface, and the solution containing a compound having a triazine skeleton, a first functional group of any one of a silanol group and an alkoxysilyl group, and a second functional group of at least one selected from the group consisting of an amino group, a thiol group, and an azido group, forming a catalyst layer on the catalyst adsorption layer, forming a metal film on the catalyst layer by an electroless plating method, and removing the metal film on the protrusions.

A composite structural component is disclosed. The composite structural component can include a lattice structure, a casing disposed about at least a portion of the lattice structure, and a skin adhered to a surface of the casing. The lattice structure and the casing can be formed of a polymeric material and the skin can be formed of a metallic material. A method of manufacturing a composite structural component is disclosed. The method can include creating a casing of a polymeric material and creating a lattice structure of a polymeric material disposed about at least a portion of the casing. The method can include sealing the porosity of the casing and lattice structure. The method can include adhering a skin of a metallic material to at least a portion of the casing. At least one of creating a lattice structure and creating a casing comprises utilizing an additive manufacturing process.

Articles can be prepared having silver layers or patterns using a non-aqueous silver precursor composition consisting essentially of: at least 1 weight % of one or more (a) cellulosic polymers, (b) at least 0.1 weight % of reducible silver ions, and (c) an organic solvent medium consisting of: (i) one or more hydroxylic organic solvents, and, optionally, (ii) a nitrile-containing or carbonate-containing aprotic solvent. This composition is subjected to a temperature of at least 20 C. for a time sufficient to convert at least 90 mol % of the (b) reducible silver ions to (d) silver nanoparticles having a mean particle size of at least 25 nm and up to and including 750 nm. Additional (ii) nitrile-containing or carbonate-containing aprotic solvent can be added, and (e) carbon black can be added sufficient to provide at least 5 weight % carbon black. The resulting silver nanoparticle-containing composition can be disposed onto a supporting surface of a substrate to form a silver nanoparticle-containing pattern, and any organic solvents can be removed. This pattern can also be electrolessly plated to form an electrically-conductive pattern.

A method of making a work piece without the use of an auxiliary anode and a work piece created using the method are provided. The work piece includes a main face being generally planar. The work piece also includes a first area comprising a plateable resin configured to be plated using the plating process without the auxiliary anode and having a first current density during the plating process. Additionally, the work piece includes a second area comprising a non-plateable resin configured to not be plated using the plating process without the auxiliary anode. The first area and the second area are determined by a process referencing a predetermined minimum current density value with the first current density being greater than the predetermined minimum current density value.

The invention relates to a thermoplastic polymer composition comprising A. a polyamide B. a reinforcing agent, and C. an laser direct structuring (LDS) additive wherein the polyamide comprises a blend of(A.1) a semi-crystalline semi-aromatic polyamide, and(A.2) an amorphous semi-aromatic polyamide or an aliphatic polyamide, or a mixture thereof; or a blend of(A.3) a semi-crystalline aliphatic polyamide, and(A.4) an amorphous semi-aromatic polyamide; and D. a metal (di)phosphinate. The present invention further relates an article prepared form the thermoplastic polymer composition, and article made by a LDS process and a process for preparing the same.

A plating method includes: providing a work piece which is metal or non-metal; forming a printed layer on a predetermined region of a surface of the work piece through printing electrical conductive material on the predetermined region; forming a plated layer through plating the printed layer and the surface of the work piece.

Methods of enhancing the corrosion resistance of an oxidizable material exposed to a supercritical fluid is disclosed One method includes placing a surface layer on an oxidizable material, and choosing a buffered supercritical fluid containing a reducing agent with the composition of the buffered supercritical fluid containing the reducing agent chosen to avoid the corrosion of the surface layer or reduce the rate of corrosion of the surface layer and avoid the corrosion of the oxidizable material or reduce the rate of corrosion of the oxidizable material at a temperature above the supercritical temperature and supercritical pressure of the supercritical fluid.

There is provided with a method of manufacturing a resin product. The method includes preparing a resin substrate that is provided with, in a first portion on a surface of the resin substrate, a first patterned layer of a first material. The method also includes forming a second patterned layer of a second material in a second portion on the surface of the resin substrate, by irradiating the second portion with ultraviolet light and then subjecting the second portion to electroless plating.

A composite structural component is disclosed. The composite structural component can include a lattice structure, a casing disposed about at least a portion of the lattice structure, and a skin adhered to a surface of the casing. The lattice structure and the casing can be formed of a polymeric material and the skin can be formed of a metallic material. A method of manufacturing a composite structural component is disclosed. The method can include creating a casing of a polymeric material and creating a lattice structure of a polymeric material disposed about at least a portion of the casing. The method can include sealing the porosity of the casing and lattice structure. The method can include adhering a skin of a metallic material to at least a portion of the casing. At least one of creating a lattice structure and creating a casing comprises utilizing an additive manufacturing process.