Polymer article and method for selective metallization of the same

Abstract

A method for selective metallization of a surface of a polymer article is provided. The polymer article contains a base polymer and at least one metal compound dispersed in the base polymer. The method includes gasifying at least a part of a surface of the polymer article by irradiating the surface with an energy source, and forming at least one metal layer on the surface of the polymer article by chemical plating. The metal compound contains a tin oxide doped with at least one doping element selected from a group including: V, Sb, In, and Mo.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for selective metallization of a surface of a polymer article, wherein the polymer article comprises a base polymer and at least one metal compound dispersed in the base polymer, the method comprising:
 gasifying at least a part of a surface of the polymer article by irradiating the surface with an energy source; and   forming at least one metal layer on the surface of the polymer article by chemical plating,   wherein   based on the total weight of the composition of the polymer article, the metal compound ranges from about 1 wt % to about 3 wt %, the base polymer ranges from about 97 wt % to about 99 wt %, and   the metal compound comprises a tin oxide doped with at least one doping element selected from a group including: V, Sb, In, and Mo.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein based on the total amount of the metal compound, the tin oxide ranges from about 90 mol % to about 99 mol %, and the doping element is in a form of oxide and the oxide of the doping element ranges from about 1 mol % to about 10 mol %. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the tin oxide ranges from about 92 mol % to about 98 mol %, and the oxide of the doping element ranges from about 2 mol % to about 8 mol %. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal compound has a volume average diameter ranging from about 50 nm to about 10 μm. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to any of  claims 1 , further comprising
 forming the metal compound by sintering powders of the tin oxide and a compound including the at least one doping element.   
     
     
         6 . The method according  claim 5 , wherein the compound is selected from a group including: V 2 O 5 , Sb 2 O 3 , In 2 O 3 , and MoO 3 . 
     
     
         7 . The method according  claim 5 , wherein the sintering is conducted at a temperature ranging from about 800° C. to about 1000° C. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy source includes a laser. 
     
     
         9 . A polymer article comprising:
 a base polymer, and   at least one metal compound dispersed in the base polymer,   wherein   based on the total weight of the polymer article the metal compound ranges from about 1 wt % to about 3 wt %; and   the metal compound comprises a tin oxide doped with at least one doping element selected from a group including: V, Sb, In, and Mo.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein based on the total amount of the metal compound, the tin oxide ranges from about 90 mol % to about 99 mol %, and the doping element is in a form of oxide and the oxide of the doping element ranges from about 1 mol % to about 10 mol %. 
     
     
         11 . The polymer article according to  claim 8 , wherein the tin oxide ranges from about 92 mol % to about 98 mol %, and the oxide of the doping element ranges from about 2 mol % to about 8 mol %. 
     
     
         12 . The polymer article according to  claim 9 , wherein the metal compound is formed by sintering powders of the tin oxide and a compound including the at least one doping element. 
     
     
         13 . The polymer article according  claim 10 , wherein the compound is selected from a group including: V 2 O 5 , Sb 2 O 3 ,1n 2 O 3 , and MoO 3 . 
     
     
         14 . The polymer article according  claim 12 , wherein the sintering is conducted at a temperature ranging from about 800° C. to about 1000° C. 
     
     
         15 . The polymer article according to  claim 9 , wherein the metal compound has a volume average diameter ranging from about 50 nm to about 10 μm.