Silver plating technology for plastic film and its application: a new way to improve the performance of flexible electronic materials

With the development of flexible electronic technology, there is an increasing demand for materials with high conductivity, good mechanical flexibility, and excellent environmental stability. The silver plating technology for plastic films has attracted much attention due to its ability to endow ordinary plastic films with metallic conductivity. This article will provide a detailed introductionAdvanced Institute (Shenzhen) Technology Co., LtdThe latest progress in silver plating technology for plastic films, including its preparation process, performance parameters, and application prospects.

Technical background

The silver plating technology for plastic film is achieved by depositing a layer on a plastic substratesilver nanoparticlesThen, through certain processing techniques, it is transformed into a continuous silver conductive layer. This technology can significantly improve the conductivity of plastic films while retaining their original characteristics of lightweight, flexibility, and low cost, making them have broad application prospects in fields such as flexible circuit boards (FPCs), electromagnetic shielding, and touch screens.

Preparation process of silver plated film

Advanced Institute (Shenzhen) Technology Co., LtdSilver plating on plastic filmThe technology mainly includes the following steps:

1. Substrate selection and pretreatment: PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film is selected as the substrate, and surface pollutants are removed through cleaning, activation, and other pretreatment methods to improve the adhesion of subsequent coatings.
2. Catalytic layer deposition: A layer of catalyst (such as palladium or gold) is deposited on the surface of a plastic film to provide active centers for subsequent chemical silver plating.
3. Chemical silver plating: Immerse the pre treated film in a solution containing silver ions, and deposit silver on the surface of the substrate through chemical reduction reaction, forming a uniform silver conductive layer.
4. Heat treatment and curing: Heat treatment is performed on the silver plated film at a certain temperature to promote the bonding between silver particles, improve the density and conductivity of the coating.
5. Post processing: Remove residual chemicals through cleaning, drying, and other steps to ensure the quality of the silver plated film.

Product parameters

The main performance parameters of silver plated plastic film are as follows:

• Thickness: The substrate thickness is 25 μ m, and the silver plating layer thickness is 0.1 μ m to 1 μ m.
• Conductivity: Surface resistivity ≤ 0.05 Ω/sq (1 μ m thick silver layer), and the resistivity decreases with the increase of silver plating thickness.
• Mechanical strength: The tensile strength of the film is ≥ 70 MPa, and the elongation at break is ≥ 100%.
• Flexibility: After 1000 180 ° bending tests, the silver layer does not crack and the resistance value changes by less than 5%.
• Weather resistance: Conduct a 1000 hour aging test under 85 ° C/85% RH conditions, with no significant corrosion on the surface and a resistance value change of less than 10%.
• Environmental friendliness: Compliant with RoHS standards, free from harmful substances such as lead, cadmium, mercury, etc.

formulation

Silver plated plastic filmThe preparation formula is as follows:

• Substrate: PET film, thickness 25 μ m.
• Catalyst layer: palladium salt solution, concentration 0.01 g/L, deposition time 5 minutes.
• Chemical silver plating solution: containing 5g/L silver nitrate (AgNO3), 10g/L formaldehyde (HCHO), as well as appropriate buffering agents and stabilizers, with a pH value adjusted to around 9.
• Heat treatment: temperature 150 ° C, time 30 minutes.
• Post treatment: Clean with deionized water, dry at 80 ° C for 10 minutes.

application area

Silver plated plastic film has broad application prospects, especially in the following fields:

• Flexible Circuit Board (FPC): As the conductive layer of FPC, it can meet the demand for lightweight and flexible modern electronic products.
• Electromagnetic shielding: used on the inside of the casing of electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets to provide effective electromagnetic shielding effect.
• Touch screen: As a transparent conductive layer in touch screens, it enhances the sensitivity and durability of the screen.
• Conductive packaging material: used for anti-static packaging of electronic components to prevent static electricity from damaging the components.

empirical test

In order to verify the performance of silver plated plastic film, the following experiments were conducted:

• Conductivity test: The resistivity of the film was measured using the four probe method, and the results showed that its conductivity was good.
• Mechanical strength testing: The tensile strength of the film was tested using a tensile testing machine, and the results showed that its strength was high.
• Flexibility test: Conduct repeated bending tests on the sample to verify its flexibility and stability of the silver layer.
• Weather resistance test: Place the sample in a salt spray box for corrosion resistance testing to ensure its stable performance in harsh environments.

conclusion

With the continuous advancement of electronic technology, the requirements for materials are becoming increasingly high. The silver plating technology for plastic films developed by Advanced Institute (Shenzhen) Technology Co., Ltd. has brought new solutions to the industry with its unique technological advantages and excellent performance. In the future, with the advancement of materials science and optimization of production processes, we have reason to believe that silver plated plastic films will play an important role in more fields, driving flexible electronic material technology to new heights.