Supercritical CO 2 -Assisted Electroless Plating of Ultrahigh-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Filaments for Weavable Device Application.

This study reports on the use of supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂) for the metallization of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) filaments, which are used as functional components in weavable devices. UHMW-PE is well known for its chemical and impact resistance, making it suitable for use in bulletproof clothing and shields. However, its chemical resistance poses a challenge for metallization. By utilizing scCO₂ as the solvent in the catalyzation process, a uniform and defect-free layer of Ni-P is successfully deposited on the UHMW-PE filaments. The deposition rate of Ni-P is enhanced at higher temperatures during the scCO₂ catalyzation. Importantly, the durability of the Ni-P-metalized UHMW-PE filaments is improved when the scCO₂ catalyzation is carried out at 120 °C, as evidenced by minimal changes in electrical resistivity after a rolling test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]