PROCESS FOR TREATING THE SURFACE OF POLYIMIDES TO IMPROVE PROPERTIES TO RECEIVE METAL LAYER

摘要

A process is provided for improving the surface properties of polyimide articles which contain significant amounts of transimide. The surface of the polyimide containing the transimide is first treated with a base to convert the surface layer of both the polyimides and the transimides to the polyamic salt. Thereafter the surface layer of the converted polyamic salt is treated with an acid to convert the layer to a polyamic acid. This is followed by a cure preferably in infrared radiation at a sufficiently rapid rate to prevent the formation of any significant amounts of transimide and provide only polyimide. Following this treatment metallization is applied to the improved surface layer.