Textile design application via electroless copper plating

Metallized textile has metallic color with reflective effect and smooth handle. The electroless copper plating on fabric using hypophosphite as a reducing agent is feasible process for design application. This study aims to investigate the appearance of the copper-plated Green-PN fabric produced by electroless plating with different deposition conditions including different nickel sulfate concentrations and pH of plating bath. Various colors were produced after the copper-plated fabrics had been exposed to the copper plating bath at 85 degrees C and pH 8.5 for different time. Design application of the electroless copper plating on Green-PN fabric and Black-CVPN fabric was carried out. The electroless copper plating could change the original appearance of the fabric through the deposition of copper particles on the fabric surface. The final pattern was well-defined using many details such as lines and forms created by the design methods. The study laid the foundation of the electroless copper plating for textile design.