Additive manufacturing processes, such as powder bed fusion of thermoplastic particulates, may be employed to form printed objects in a range of shapes. It is sometimes desirable to form conductive traces upon the surface of printed objects. Conductive traces and similar features may be introduced during additive manufacturing processes by incorporating a metal precursor in a thermoplastic printing composition, converting a portion of the metal precursor to discontinuous metal islands using laser irradiation, and performing electroless plating. Suitable printing compositions may comprise a plurality of thermoplastic particulates comprising a thermoplastic polymer, a metal precursor admixed with the thermoplastic polymer, and optionally a plurality of nanoparticles disposed upon an outer surface of each of the thermoplastic particulates, wherein the metal precursor is activatable to form metal islands upon exposure to laser irradiation. Melt emulsification may be used to form the thermoplastic particulates.

Provided is an apparatus for electro-forming. The apparatus for electro-forming includes a plating bath which is a space where a substrate is plated and a clamp disposed within the plating bath and configured to grasp the substrate disposed in a horizontal direction. The apparatus for electro-forming further includes an assembly including an anode spaced above the substrate and connected to an external power supply and a plating solution supply unit spaced above the substrate and configured to supply a plating solution. The apparatus for electro-forming also includes a driving unit configured to reciprocate the assembly in a horizontal direction at a distance from the substrate. The assembly further includes an insulator between the anode and the plating solution supply unit.

An antimicrobial device can include a common touch surface of a non-metallic material, and an antimicrobial metal layer applied to the common touch surface at an average thickness ranging from a single metal atom in thickness to 1 mm.

A method for manufacturing a wiring substrate includes forming a conductor layer including first and second pads, forming a resin insulating layer on the conductor layer, forming, in the insulating layer, a first opening exposing the first pad and a second opening exposing the second pad, forming a covering layer on the insulating layer such that the covering layer covers the first and second openings, forming a third opening in the covering layer such that the third opening communicates with the first opening and the first pad is exposed in the third opening, forming, on a surface of the first pad, a protective film formed of material different from material forming the conductor layer, removing the covering layer from the insulating layer, and forming a conductor post on the second pad such that the conductor post is formed of material that is same as the material forming the conductor layer.

A touch input device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The touch input device includes: a first base including a metal compound; a first pattern groove formed over one surface of the first base; a first sense pattern formed over the first pattern groove and including a conductive material; a second base stacked over the first base, and configured to include a metal compound; a second pattern groove formed over one surface of the second base; a second sense pattern formed over the second pattern groove, including a conductive material, and spaced apart from the first sense pattern; and a line unit connecting the first sense pattern and the second sense pattern to an integrated-circuit.

A sheet material includes a resin layer containing a binder and polypyrrole particles, an electroless plating film provided on the side of one main surface of the resin layer and including first electroless plating films and a second electroless plating film, and a transparent base material provided on the side of the other main surface of the resin layer.

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 method for fabricating a metallic wire mesh touch sensor with reduced visibility. A metallic wire mesh is formed on a transparent substrate such that the surface of the metallic wires is roughened or textured, so as to cause high scattering of incident light, thereby minimizing specularly reflected light towards the user. The metal lines are formed over patterned catalytic photoresist. The rough or textured surface of the metallic wires is achieved by roughening or texturing the catalytic photoresist, by selecting parameters of electronless plating of copper, or both. An RMS surface roughness of about 50 nm would scatter approximately 70% of incident cyan light incident at 30°.

A selectively chrome plated object having a substantially flush interface comprises a first portion formed by injection molding a plateable resin and defining a first top surface, a second portion formed by injection molding a non-plateable resin and defining a second top surface, the second portion sitting proud of the first portion such that the second top surface of the second portion is offset from the first top surface of the first portion, and a third portion formed by a chrome plating process where a chrome plating is applied to the first top surface of the first portion such that a third top surface of the third portion is substantially flush with the second top surface of the second portion.

A partially plated plastic product includes a first base member and a second base member that are made of different plastic materials. The first base member includes a first corner portion having a curved wall surface. The second base member includes a second corner portion. The first and second corner portions are located on a front side of the product. The first and second base members are adjacent to each other at least at the first corner portion and the second corner portion. Only one of the first and second base members includes a metal coating film formed on a region of an outer surface of the base member with which the other base member is not in contact. The second corner portion includes a groove forming portion. The groove forming portion forms a groove between itself and at least the curved wall surface of the first corner portion.