Laser-induced fabrication of metallic interlayers and patterns in polyimide films

US7758927B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Gilda Miner · Newport News, US
• Diane M. Stoakley · Yorktown, US
• Gregory Gaddy · Odenton, US
• Brent D. Koplitz · New Orleans, US
• Steven M. Simpson · New Orleans, US
• Michael F. Lynch · New Orleans, US
• Samuel C. Ruffner · New Orleans, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 30, 2004
• Grant date: Jul 20, 2010
• Expiry date: Jan 12, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/31609
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Self-metallizing polyimide films are created by doping polyamic acid solutions with metallic ions and solubilizing agents. Upon creating a film, the film is exposed to coherent light for a specific time and then cured. The resulting film has been found to have a metallic surface layer and a metallic subsurface layer (interlayer). The layer separating the metallic layer has a uniform dispersion of small metal particulates within the polymer. The layer below the interlayer has larger metal particulates uniformly distributed within the polymer. By varying the intensity or time of exposure to the coherent light, three-dimensional control of metal formation within the film is provided.