Preparation of copper-coated fine molybdenum powders with electroless technique

The molybdenum powders with average particle size of 3 μm were coated with copper by electroless plating. The influence of pretreatment,solution composition and plating conditions on electroless copper plating was studied. The copper-coated molybdenum powders were examined by SEM and XRD. Results indicate that a series of optimization methods is used to add activated sites before electroless copper plating. Taking TEA and EDTA as chief and assistant complex agents respectively,2,2'-bipyridyl and PEG as double stabilizers,the Mo powders are coated with copper successfully with little Cu2O contained,at the same time,Mo-Cu composite powders with copper content of 15-85 wt% can be obtained. The optimal values of pH,temperature and HCHO concentration are 12-13,60-65 ℃ and 22-26 mL/L,respectively.