Laser-assisted grafting onto polycarbonate: application to metallization by chemical means

Nitrogen atoms were grafted on polycarbonate by laser irradiation (λ=213 nm) through an ammonia atmosphere. The optimal experimental conditions namely ammonia pressure and laser fluence were adjusted for grafting as much nitrogen as possible. The efficiency of the different treatments was estimated by XPS analyses and metallization tests. The latter were carried out by chemical means using a simplified process previously developed in the laboratory within the framework of plasma functionalization of polymer surfaces. This method needs nitrogen atom presence on the surface to be metallized, these atoms allowing the chemisorption of palladium, the latter acting as a catalyst of the metallization reaction (electroless process).