OPTIMIZATION OF THE STAGE OF ETCHING IN T HE PROCESS OF COPPER ELECTRODEPOSITION ON PIECES OF ABS (ACRYLONITRILE-BUTADIENE-STYRENE)

This paper describes how the stage of etching has been optimitzed as e ssential stage of the electrodeposition process of Cu on pieces of ABS . Acids oxidiziers (nitric acid, sulphuric acid, perchloric acid and c hromic acid) have been used and the pieces of ABS have been submitted to different concentrations, temperatures, periods of exposition and t o the presence of a surface active agent that reduces the superficial tension of the bath and improves the impregnabilitie. In all cases, it has been seen that concentration and temperature improve the yield, a lthough in some cases they provoke a deterioration of the mechanical p roperties. In most cases the optimum treatment time is 12 minutes. The presence of a surface active agent always improves the yield.