Method of producing the plated molded articles by non-electrode plating, and the resin compositions for that use

Abstract

A process for producing an electrolessly plated molded article, which includes molding a resin composition made of a thermoplastic resin having a specific Izod impact strength and a Rockwell surface hardness and an inorganic filler, then treating the surface of the molded article with air blast using an abrasive having a sharp granular shape, and then conducting catalyst coating, activation treatment and electroless plating. It has been possible to apply the electroless plating with a high adhesion strength to the molded article of the thermoplastic resin composition without conducting the chemical etching treatment.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for producing an electrolessly plated molded article, which comprises molding a resin composition made of 
 (A) 100 parts by weight of a thermoplastic resin having the following properties (a1) and (a2)    (a1) an Izod impact strength of 35 J/m or less, and    (a2) a surface hardness of R115 or more in terms of a Rockwell surface hardness, and    (B) 100 parts by weight or more of an inorganic filler, then treating the surface of the molded article with blast to make a surface roughness Rmax 15 μm or more, and thereafter conducting catalyst coating, activation treatment and electroless plating.    
     
     
         2 . The process for producing the electrolessly plated molded article as claimed in    claim 1   , wherein the treatment with blast is conducted by treatment with air blast using an abrasive having a sharp granular shape.  
     
     
         3 . A process for producing an electrolessly plated molded article, which comprises molding a resin composition made of 
 (A) 100 parts by weight of a thermoplastic resin having the following properties (a1) and (a2)    (a1) an Izod impact strength of 35 J/m or less, and    (a2) a surface hardness of R115 or more in terms of a Rockwell surface hardness, and    (B) 100 parts by weight or more of an inorganic filler, then treating the surface of the molded article with air blast using an abrasive having a sharp granular shape, and thereafter conducting catalyst coating, activation treatment and electroless plating.    
     
     
         4 . The process for producing the electrolessly plated molded article as claimed in    claim 2    or 3, wherein the abrasive having the sharp granular shape is granulated alumina.  
     
     
         5 . The process for producing the electrolessly plated molded article as claimed in any one of    claims 1    to    4   , wherein the thermoplastic resin is a polyarylene sulfide or a syndiotactic polystyrene.  
     
     
         6 . The process for producing the electrolessly plated molded article as claimed in any one of    claims 1    to    5   , wherein at least a part of the inorganic filler is a whisker.  
     
     
         7 . The process for producing the electrolessly plated molded article as claimed in    claim 6   , wherein the whisker is one type or a combination of two or more types selected from a zinc oxide whisker, an aluminum borate whisker and a calcium silicate whisker.  
     
     
         8 . A polyarylene sulfide resin composition for an electrolessly plated molded article, which composition is made of 
 (A′) 20 to 50% by weight of a polyarylene sulfide having a melt viscosity of 100 Pa·sec or less,    (B′) 5 to 50% by weight of a zinc oxide whisker,    (C′) 0 to 75% by weight of a ground inorganic filler, and    (D′) 0 to 50% by weight of a fiber reinforcement.    
     
     
         9 . The polyarylene sulfide resin composition for the electrolessly plated molded article as claimed in    claim 8   , wherein the ground inorganic filler is one type or a combination of two or more types selected from aluminum nitride, magnesium oxide, alumina and graphite.