LAUSR

In this work, stress behavior in nickel-plated coating on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrate modified with primer was investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and optical microscope. Results showed residual stress of plated coating were firstly enhanced, and then reduced with the increase of plated time. The residual stress could lead to stress cracking phenomenon, which results in partially release of the residual stress. In addition, the initial cracking time, residual stress and fracture stress obviously increased with increasing activated time. When the modified PET substrates activated for 2 and 60 min, highest residual stress were 3.7 and 4.6 MPa, fracture stress were 3 and 4.1 MPa, initial cracking time were 15 and 20 min after electroless plating, respectively. Further investigation indicated that the residual stress was probably related to the crystal preferential orientation, deposited rate, catalyst amount.