This work is a review of the literature on the possibilities for electroplating of polymer materials. Methods of metalizing polymers and their composites were presented and discussed. Information from various publications on the electrical properties of polymers and polymer composites was collected and discussed. The most important results on the electroplating of conductive polymers and conductive composites were presented and compared. This work especially focuses on the electrical conductivity of polymer materials. The main focus was the efficiency of metal electrodeposition. Based on the analyzed publications, it was found that electrically deposited metal layers on conductive polymeric materials show discontinuity, considerable roughness, and different layer thickness depending on the distance from the contact electrode. The use of metal nanoparticles (AgNWs) or nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) as a filler enables effective metallization of the polymer composite. Due to the high aspect ratio, it is possible to lower the percolation threshold with a low filler content in the polymer matrix. The presented review reveals many of the problems associated with the effectiveness of the electroplating methods. It indicates the need and direction for further research and development in the field of electroplating of polymer materials and modification of their electrical properties.

This article presents the results of a study on laser ablation of selected thermoplastic polymers using an economical fiber laser with a scanning galvanometer system and an IR laser with a wavelength ofλ = 1064 nm. The study aimed to develop comparative characteristics of the ablation processes of commonly used constructional thermoplastics, namely acrylonitrile butadiene styrene terpolymer (ABS), polystyrene (PS), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), polylactide (PLA), and polyamide 6 (PA6). The ablation characteristics of the tested materials were determined, and the ablation depth and surface structures were calculated and presented. A comparative analysis of the contact angle, surface free energy, and strength of adhesive connections of materials modified with laser radiation and unmodified was performed. The study showed that the dynamics of laser ablation were much higher in ABS, PS, PET, and PC than in PLA and PA6. Although modification of the surface layer of the polymeric material did not have a significant impact on the surface free energy and wettability of the sample surface, it increased the strength of adhesive connections even several times (in ABS, PS, PET) with the lowest energy consumption. The results also demonstrated that some polymers, such as ABS or PS, can be effectively treated with near-infrared laser radiation of this wavelength, which is particularly important for surface layer modification and marking of details.

Selective metallization of polymeric materials using the technique known as laser direct structuring (LDS) is intensively developed. In this technique, metallized products can be manufactured by injection molding or by 3D printing process if rapid prototyping is need. Special additives present in the polymer matrix enable direct electroless metallization only on the surface which was laser activated. This paper presents the results of using copper microparticles introduced into the poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (ABS) matrix at various amounts (up to about 5 vol %). ABS was selected due to its good processing and mechanical properties and as one of the most common thermoplastics used in 3D printing. The influence of copper on structural, mechanical, and processing properties as well as on the effects of laser surface activation were determined. Two types of infrared lasers were tested for surface activation: Nd:YAG fiber laser (λ = 1064 nm) and CO₂ laser (λ = 10.6 µm). Various irradiation parameters (power, scanning speed, and frequency) were applied to find suitable conditions for laser surface activation and electroless metallization. It was found that the composites tested can be effectively metallized using the Nd:YAG laser, but only in a narrow range of radiation parameters. Activation with CO₂ laser failed, regardless of applied irradiation conditions. It resulted from the fact that ablation rate and thickness of modified surface layer for CO₂ were lower than for Nd:YAG laser using the same irradiation parameters (power, speed, and frequency of laser beams), thus the laser wavelength was crucial for successful surface activation.

Polyurethane coatings containing copper(II) L-tyrosine and glass microspheres were laser irradiated and underwent electroless metallization. Various sizes of glass microspheres were incorporated into the polyurethane coating matrix in order to examine their effects on surface activation and electroless metallization. The surface of the coatings was activated by using ArF excimer laser emitting ultraviolet radiation (λ = 193 nm) using different number of laser pulses and their fluence. The effects of surface activation and metallization were evaluated mainly based on optical and scanning electron microcopies (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that the presence of glass microspheres enabled the reduction in copper complex content, intensified the ablation process (higher cone-like structures created) and resulted in higher content of copper metallic seeds. On the other hand, the glass microspheres concentration, which was higher for lower size microspheres, was advantageous for obtaining a fully metallized layer.