LAUSR

In this study, a reductive film with strong cohesiveness was produced on the poly(ether ether ketone)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PEEK/MWCNT) composite with a porous surface by immersing-drying. The reductive film reduced Cu2+ ions to Cu0 catalysts in situ. With the increase of NaBH4 concentration in pretreatment process, the Cu0 catalysts gradually changed from small spherical particles to large polyhedral particles and the content of Cu0 catalysts increased. The small spherical particles covered on the wall of porous network uniformly and the distribution of large polyhedral particles was nonuniform. The Cu0 catalysts induced the electroless deposition of copper coating on the composite surface. The deposition rate of copper coating was increased and the sheet resistance of copper coated PEEK/MWCNT was decreased with the increase of NaBH4 concentration in pretreatment process. The adhesion of the copper coating on PEEK/MWCNT composite reached the highest 5 B scale according to ASTM D3359. Compared with the original PEEK/MWCNT, the electrical resistivity in direction of thickness decreased by six orders of magnitude for copper coated PEEK/MWCNT.