Preparation of Conductive Silicone Rubber Sheets by Electroless Nickel Plating

Electroless plating process as a solution deposition method is a viable means of preparing conductive metal films on non-conducting substrates through chemical reactions. In the present study, the preparation and properties of electroless Ni-plating on flexible silicone rubber are described. The process has been performed using a conventional Ni(P) chemical bath. Additives and complexing agents such as ammonium chloride and glycine were added and the reaction pH was controlled by NaOH aqueous solution. Ni deposition rate and crystallinity have been found to vary with pH and temperature of the plating bath. It was shown that Ni-films having the high crystallinity, enhanced adhesion and optimum electric conductivity were formed uniformly on silicone rubber substrates under pH 7 at $70^{\circ}C$. The conductive Ni-plated silicone rubber showed a high electromagnetic interference shielding effect in the 400 MHz-1 GHz range.