Selectively Plated Rolls Of Materials And Related Methods

Abstract

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of selectively metal-plated rolls of materials, rolls of materials configured for selective metal plating, and methods for selectively plating rolls of materials. In an exemplary embodiment, a selectively plated roll of material includes a substrate, an electrically-conductive ink in a pattern along the substrate, and a metal plating on the electrically-conductive ink. The metal plating may be deposited on the electrically-conductive ink without over-plating the substrate whereat the electrically-conductive ink is not present.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A selectively plated roll of material comprising:
 a substrate;   an electrically-conductive ink in a pattern along the substrate; and   a metal plating on the electrically-conductive ink;   whereby the metal plating is deposited on the electrically-conductive ink without over-plating the substrate whereat the electrically-conductive ink is not present.   
     
     
         2 . The selectively plated roll of material of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more of:
 an anti-oxidant coating disposed on at least the metal plating; and/or   a benzotriazole (BTA) corrosion inhibitor coating disposed on at least the metal plating.   
     
     
         3 . The selectively plated roll of material of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the electrically-conductive ink comprises butadiene acrylonitrile polymer with silver filler;   the metal plating comprises copper and/or nickel; and   the substrate comprises a polyester taffeta fabric.   
     
     
         4 . The selectively plated roll of material of  claim 1 , wherein the metal plating is electrolessly deposited on the electrically-conductive ink. 
     
     
         5 . The selectively plated roll of material of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a fabric substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The selectively plated roll of material of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive ink comprises a printable ink that is printed in the pattern along the substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The selectively plated roll of material of  claim 6 , wherein the printable ink comprises butadiene acrylonitrile polymer with silver filler. 
     
     
         8 . The selectively plated roll of material of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive ink comprises a printable ink that is inkjet printed in the pattern along the substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The selectively plated roll of material of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive ink comprises a printable ink that is gravure printed in the pattern along the substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The selectively plated roll of material of  claim 1 , wherein the selectively plated roll of material comprises a selectively plated roll of woven fabric having a plain weave. 
     
     
         11 . The selectively plated roll of material of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the metal plating comprises an electroless copper plating on the electrically-conductive ink; and   an electrolytic nickel plating is disposed on the electroless copper plating.   
     
     
         12 . An electromagnetic interference shield comprising a portion of the selectively plated roll of material of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A selectively plated roll of fabric comprising:
 a fabric substrate;   an electrically-conductive ink printed in a pattern along the fabric substrate; and   a metal plating on the electrically-conductive ink, whereby the metal plating is deposited on the electrically-conductive ink without over-plating the fabric substrate whereat the electrically-conductive ink is not present; and   an anti-oxidant coating and/or a benzotriazole (BTA) corrosion inhibitor coating disposed on at least the metal plating.   
     
     
         14 . The selectively plated roll of fabric of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the electrically-conductive ink comprises butadiene acrylonitrile polymer with silver filler;   the metal plating comprises copper and/or nickel electrolessly deposited on the electrically-conductive ink; and   the fabric substrate comprises a polyester taffeta fabric.   
     
     
         15 . The selectively plated roll of fabric of  claim 13 , wherein the selectively plated roll of fabric comprises a selectively plated roll of woven fabric having a plain weave. 
     
     
         16 . The selectively plated roll of fabric of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the metal plating comprises an electroless copper plating on the electrically-conductive ink; and   an electrolytic nickel plating is disposed on the electroless copper plating.   
     
     
         17 . An electromagnetic interference shield comprising a portion of the selectively plated roll of fabric of  claim 13 . 
     
     
         18 . A method of selectively plating a roll of material, the method comprising applying an electrically-conductive ink in a pattern along a substrate, and depositing a metal plating on the electrically-conductive ink without over-plating the substrate whereat the electrically-conductive ink is not present. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises at least one or more of:
 unrolling the roll of material before applying the electrically-conductive ink on the substrate and rerolling the material after applying the electrically-conductive ink on the substrate; and/or   unrolling the roll of material before depositing the metal plating on the electrically-conductive ink and rerolling the material after depositing the metal plating on the electrically-conductive ink.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the electrically-conductive ink comprises butadiene acrylonitrile polymer with silver;   the metal plating comprises nickel and/or copper;   the substrate comprises a polyester taffeta fabric; and   the method further comprises:
 coating at least the metal plating with one or more of an anti-oxidant coating and/or a benzotriazole (BTA) corrosion inhibitor coating; and 
 unrolling the roll of material before coating at least the metal plating and rerolling the material after coating at least the metal plating.