Chemical Copper Coating of Lavsan Fibers

Abstract

A method for chemical deposition of thin copper coatings on lavsan fibers was developed using reduction of copper salts in alkaline solution in the presence of complexants. Sodium borohydride was used as the reductant. A nondestructive method for preliminary modification of the lavsan fibers with surface polar groups was found. Studies of the effect of the copper-salt anion on fiber metallization found that the use of copper acetate was most effective. X-ray phase analysis and electron-probe microanalysis found that the formed coating consisted of pure copper without impurities of oxides or other elements. SEM studies of the surface morphology of the copper-coated fibers showed that the obtained continuous coating consisted of Cu crystal agglomerates of dimensions ~500 nm. The metallized lavsan fibers had high electrical conductivity.