Copper on non conductors (e.g., glass)

[ttonon]

I'm very new to these concepts. I read on this site that one could plate copper on non-electrically-conducting materials, but there are no comments on this process in the descriptions of the do it yourself copper plating kits. I'm also puzzled how an electroplating technique involving electric currents could be used to plate metal on a non conductor. Is there an electroless process that deposits copper? Can electroless Nickel be used to plate on non conductors? Do these metal films stick to glass? Sorry for the many questions, but thanks for the answers.

Best regards,
Tom

[KCV6]

Tom,

Plating can be achieved on non conductive materials by first coating the item with a conductive layer. This is usually in the form of silver laden acrylic laquer (sliver paint). It is a difficult technique to master. There are other variations on the theme involving other conductive media being applied first. Much like Bronzing where graphite paste is applied and polished off leaving a thin layer.

The bond of the deposited electro or electroless plating is only as good as the bond of the conductive material to the substrate. Glass for example would not have good adhesion qualities unless it was first chamber coated in aluminium and/or gold. We run several coating chambers at work where we can deposit gold to glass etc to manufacture precision mirror optics. It costs $2500 Aus just to set up a single chamber run for multiple coatings, so needless to say it is rarely done this way.

Cheers

Mark

[platechem]

tom,

firstly you have to obtain a conductive layer. ı will give an example on plating plastics.
for exaple;

when plating plastics (ABS plastic) firstly you must etch the plastic to obtain cavities.
then dip the plastic in a special palladium solution. paladium will adhare the cavities surface.
the next step is electroless plating. ıt can be electroless nickel or copper but generally we use nickel.
and now our plastic parts are conductive. we can plate what we want.

general process princible is this.

[ttonon]

Thanks Mark and Platechem for your responses.

One of the things I'd like to do is make a back surface mirror, with the reflecting surface being Copper, on a glass substrate. I'd like the spectrum of the reflected light to be the same as that from Copper. I understand that I will need to first coat the glass with a conductor, which will probably not be Copper. Problem is that If this conductor layer is thick enough to reflect light, it might change the spectrum of the reflected light from that of Copper. Are there transparent conductive coatings I can use as the first conducting layer? Thanks again for your responses.

Tom