Process for optophysical surface treatment of polymer substrates and device for implementing the process

Abstract

A surface treatment process which enables a substrate (polymer) to be given specific physical properties, especially surface nanoporosity, for example with a view to electroless metallizing it, and which completely replaces surface treatment by sulfo-chromic pickling. The surface treatment includes a hybrid UV/corona treatment of the substrate surface followed by non-electrolytic metallization. A device for implementing these processes is also disclosed.

1 . Method for treating a substrate surface comprising a combined UV/Corona treatment of the substrate surface followed by a non-electrolytic metallization of the substrate which has been treated. 
     
     
         2 . Method for surface treatment according to  claim 1 , wherein the combined UV/Corona treatment is chosen from the group consisting of an alternation of a UV treatment and a Corona treatment, a simultaneity of UV and Corona treatments, a treatment comprising one or more alternation sequences and one or more simultaneous sequences of UV and Corona treatments and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . Method for surface treatment according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a polymer, preferably chosen amongst:
 I—Thermoplastics, advantageously amongst the following thermoplastics:
 polyolefins: polystyrene, copolymers of styrene such as poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) or SBS, polypropylene, polyethylene; 
 polyamides; 
 copolymers of acrylonitrile:
 and of methyl acrylate; 
 and of methyl methacrylate; 
 of vinyl chloride and of styrene (SAN); 
 of butadiene and of styrene (ABS); 
 of butadiene, of styrene (ABS) and of polycarbonate PC; or 
 
   II—Thermosetting polymers advantageously from amongst the following thermosetting polymers:
 polyimides; 
 polyesters; 
 phenolic resins; 
 epoxides. 
   
     
     
         4 . Method for surface treatment according to  claim 1 , wherein the combined UV/Corona treatment comprises at least one alternation of a UV treatment and a Corona treatment. 
     
     
         5 . Method for surface treatment according to  claim 1 , wherein the combined UV/Corona treatment comprises 1 (one) to 120 times the alternation of a 0.01 second to 30 minute UV treatment with a 0.01 second to 30 minute Corona treatment. 
     
     
         6 . Method for surface treatment  claim 1 , wherein the non-electrolytic metallization is a non-electrolytic metallization by spraying of one or more redox solutions in the form of aerosol(s). 
     
     
         7 . Method for surface treatment according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-electrolytic metallization is a non-electrolytic metallization by immersion of the substrate in one or more baths of redox solutions. 
     
     
         8 . Method for surface treatment according to  claim 1 , wherein the effluents are retreated and recycled and wherein the retreatment and the recycling of the effluents comprise, in this order, the following steps:
 recuperation of the effluents in a container,   distillation in an evaporator,   use of the distillate in the method for metallization or disposal to the sewer.   
     
     
         9 . Method for surface treatment according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of substrates are treated in line without breaking the chain. 
     
     
         10 . Device for the implementation of the method as described in  claim 1 , comprising the following elements:
 at least one module for a combined UV/Corona surface treatment,   at least one metallization module.