Surface modification of an epoxy resin with polyamines and polydopamine: The effect on the initial electroless copper deposition

Abstract

• The surface of an epoxy resin is modified via adsorbed polyamines, polydopamine and polyamines grafted on polydopamine. • Introduction of polyamines leads to an increase of Pd(0) species on the surface after catalytic activation. • Grafted polyamines on polydopamine result in a higher initial electroless copper deposition. This paper describes the influence of polydopamine and polyamine surface modifications of an etched epoxy cresol novolak (ECN) resin on the initial electroless copper deposition. Three different strategies to introduce polyamines on a surface in aqueous environment are applied: via polyethyleneimine adsorption (PEI), via polydopamine and via polyamines grafted to polydopamine. Next, the influence of these surface modifications on the catalytic palladium activation is investigated through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. Finally, the initial electroless copper deposition on modified epoxy surfaces is evaluated using SEM and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). Grafted polyamines on polydopamine surface modifications result in a large increase of the initial deposited copper.