Laser-induced surface activation and electroless metallization of polyurethane coating containing copper(II) L-tyrosine

Abstract In this work copper(II) L-tyrosine was firstly reported as effective precursors for laser-induced selective activation and electroless metallization of polyurethane coating. The compound in the form of powder was mixed at amount of 20 wt% with polyurethane resin to form the coating on the polycarbonate substrate. The coating was irradiated with excimer ArF laser which generated UV radiation of about 193 nm wavelength. Various laser fluences and number of laser pulses were applied to determine physicochemical changes of the coating surface layer. After irradiation coatings were electrolessly metallized. It was found that laser irradiation resulted in formation of cone-like surface geometrical structure. The high of the cones was dependent on the dose of irradiation, whereas their tops were covered with copper. The external surface layer of precipitated copper was oxidized. This, however, did not affect the possibility of the surface to be electrolessly metalized. The irradiated coatings was effectively metallized and thus deposited copper layer characterized with high adhesion strength.