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.