Study On Electroless Composite Plating And Colorization Of Coating On PET Fabric

In this paper, PET fabrics coated with double metal layers (Cu-Ni, Ni-Cu, Ag-Ni, Cu-Ag), triple metal layers(Ag-Ni-Cu), Ni-Cu alloy and composite layer of Ni-P alloy with nano-particles(SiO₂,SiC,SnO₂,ZnO,Fe₃O₄) by means of electroless plating were developed. Fabrics coated with Ag, Ni and Cu were treated with colorization and showed colourful coatings by using of metal complex dyes and the chemical soakage. Electroless plating fabrics were investigated by means of scanning electron microscope, X-Ray energy spectrum, X-ray diffraction analysis and thermogravimetry. The electromagnetic shielding performance, sound absorption, tensile properties, wearability and abrasion resistance were also measured. Color fastness and rubbing abrasion fastness of colorization of electroless plating fabrics were also measured. The electromagnetic shielding performance and k/s value of colorization of electroless plating fabrics were also measured.The results showed that the decomposition temperature of electroless plating fabrics were lower than that of PET fabric. Decomposition temperature of Composite coating of Ni-P alloy with nano-particles on PET fabrics were significantly lower than that of PET fabric. Moreover effect of weight gain rate on decomposition temperature of electroless plating fabrics were not obvious. The shielding effectiveness (SE) of composite coated fabrics with nano-particles were larger than that of Ni-coated fabrics. The shielding effectiveness(SE) increased quickly with the increasing of weight gain rate at first, and then increased slowly. SE was greatly influenced by the uniformity of metal when the weight gain rate was smaller. However, the SE was influenced by the compactness of metal and its variety when the weight gain rate was beyond a certain value. The SE was influenced by the compactness and uniformity of metal when the weight gain rate and its component was equal. The surface specific resistance decreased with the increasing of weight gain rate. Compared to PET fabric, the sound absorption coefficient of electroless plating fabrics had almost no change in low frequency, but were larger than PET fabrics in high frequency. Moreover the sound absorption coefficient of composite coated on fabrics were smaller than that of PET fabrics in middle frequency. On process of electroless nickel plating, structure of amorphous changed into crystalline structure by the addition of nano-particles which was SiO₂ or SiC or SnO₂ or Fe₃O₄. On diffraction angle of coating were 45degree, 52degree and 76 degree, appeared the diffraction peaks of continuous X-Ray spectrum. Structure of coating changed into nano-crystalline. The abrasion resistance of composite layer of Ni-P alloy with nano-particles on PET fabric by electroless plating became worse because of the incorporating of nano-particles. The tensile curve of electroless plating fabric possessed characteristic of metal's tensile and fiber tensile. The tensile properties of electroless plating fabric were influenced by the thickness of coated metal. The color fastness to brushing and to rubbing could satisfy the requirement. The optimum temperature of colorization was 120℃, and the time was 15min. The colorant justly clined to coatings and chemical reaction did not occurred by using of scanning electron microscope. The shielding effectiveness of Ni-coated fabric was larger than that of colorization of Ni-coated fabric when the weight gain rate was equal.