Electroless silver plating on tetraethoxy silane-bridged fiber glass

Tetraethoxy silane was used to functionalize the surface of fiber glass (FG) for adsorption with the electroless plated silver shell. The performance of electroless silver plated FG with tetraethoxy silane modification was compared to that of unmodified FG in terms of mechanical and electrical properties. The silane bridge provided more stability for binding with different concentrations of electroless plating silver ions. The characterization was investigated by using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), energy-dispersion X-ray (EDX), metal microscope (MM) and electric resistance. The Ag coating on TEOS modified FG was more durable than that of unmodified FG in the ball milling test, as confirmed by the data of electric resistance and residue weight. The optimized conditions for producing the Ag coating FG were also investigated. The Ag-Si-FG-3-c product in this study has the lowest electrical resistance of 1.56 × 103 Ω/cm2 and good mechanical stability as exhibited in ball milling tests.

► The electroless silver plated FG with tetraethoxy silane modification was compared to that with no modification. ► The silane bridge provided more stability for binding with silver ions. ► The Ag coating on TEOS modified FG was more durable than that on the unmodified FG. ► The Ag coating on the TEOS modified FG has the lowest electrical resistance.