Electroless plating of PVC plastic through new surface modification method applying a semi-IPN hydrogel film

A novel palladium-free surface activation process for electroless nickel plating was developed. Notably, this method applies a semi-Interpenetrating Polymer Network (semi-IPN) hydrogel film to modify the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) surface by chemical bonds. The hydrogel layer was used as the chemisorption sites for nickel, and the catalyst could successfully initiate the electroless nickel plating onto the PVC surface.