A new process for preparing conducting wood veneers by electroless nickel plating

A new, simple electroless Ni–P plating process for preparing a conductive wood veneer has been developed. In this process, the activation was combined with electroless deposition in the plating solution. This provides a simple, environmentally friendly method, by which a Ni–P layer was successfully deposited on the surface of Manchurian ash veneer. It was observed by scanning electron microscopy that the deposited layer was uniform, compact and continuous. Results from energy-dispersive spectroscopy showed that a low-phosphorus layer was obtained, which contained about 4 wt.% phosphorus and 96 wt.% nickel. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the coating was crystalline. It is considered that the crystalline structure is related to the low-phosphorus content of the layer. Veneers plated with the crystalline Ni–P coating had good electrical conductivity, with a surface resistivity less than 200 mΩ/cm2 and a firm adhesion of the Ni–P coating to the wood.