PROCESS FOR METALLIZING SUBSTRATES USING STARVED-REACTION METAL-OXIDE REDUCTION

摘要

A unique process metallizes a substrate surface using areducing agent including a borohydride to reduce, in a starvedreaction, metal oxide particles (300) substantially uniformlydistributed and at a controlled concentration in a particle filledresin (204) to produce catalytic island areas (301). The catalyticisland areas (301) formed have a surface resistivity greaterthan 10 6 ohms per square. These catalytic island areas (301)are then electrolessly metallized to a predetermined thickness,such that adjacent catalytic island areas (301) areinterconnected and form metallic features, such as pads, vias(213), and conductors (210, 211 and 212). The starved reactionlimits the reduction of metal oxide particles (300) to catalyticisland areas (301) and prevents migration of reduced metalbeyond each of the exposed surfaces of particle-filled resin (204)which are to be metallized.