Highly adhesive metal plating on Zylon® fiber via iodine pretreatment

► Iodine pretreatment effectively catalyzed PBO surface for electroless Cu plating. ► Pd particles formed at the fiber surface improved the adhesion of plated layer. ► Plated layer was durable against ultrasonic exposure, tape peel-off and corrosion. ► Plated fiber shows durable electrical conductivity. ► Plated layer protect the mechanical properties of PBO against light degradation.