Low corrosivity catalyst for activation of copper for electroless nickel plating

摘要

This invention relates to electroless nickel plating of metals which are normally noncatalytic for electroless nickel initiation. It is especially useful in the electronics industry, including production of electroless nickel/electroless gold tabs or surface mount pads on printed circuit boards, and for use in electroless nickel plating over copper for radiofrequency interference shielding. More particularly, it comprises alkali halide salt solutions of a palladium salt with another Group VIII precious metal salt in an inorganic acid solution for effectively and completely catalyzing the initiation of electroless nickel plating on copper substrates.