Composition including a catalytic metal-polymer complex and a method of manufacturing a laminate preform or a laminate which is catalytically effective for subsequent electroless metallization thereof

摘要

The inventive method provides a simple and economical method of manufacturing a laminate which is catalytically effective for subsequent electroless deposition thereon of metals, such as copper, and which is useful as a substrate for printed circuit boards. Advantageously, the inventive method provides an improved laminate having a substantially uniform distribution of finely divided catalytic metal, Me. sub.(0), within a crosslinked synthetic polymer impregnant. A catalytic metal- polymer complex is formed between a salt of a catalytic metal and a crosslinkable synthetic polymer, optionally containing a monomeric reactive diluent, to provide a concentrate which may be worked up into an impregnating composition for impregnating reinforcing material therewith. The complex is then destroyed and the catalytic metal, such as palladium- II, reduced to elemental metal, such as palladium metal, Pd.sub.(0), during or after crosslinking of the polymer system under conditions effective for crosslinking the polymer system. Preferably destruction and reduction occur during crosslinking. The catalytic metal is a Group IB or Group VIII metal, preferably palladium or nickel. The crosslinkable synthetic polymer is an unsaturated polyester or polyvinyl ester.