Functional metal-based coatings on ceramic substrates

For applications in the fields of metrology, e.g. the evaluation of calorimetric parameters or electrical measurements, the combination of a ceramic substrate with a metal-based coating is necessary. The applications require coatings with a good adhesion and a high purity which can withstand a corrosive medium at various temperatures. Typical coatings are copper, silver, gold and platinum. These coatings can be achieved up to 1 mm in thickness and with a homogeneous structure by electroplating of electrically conductive substrates. The paper describes different possibilities for the metallizing of insulating substrates or insulating layers prior to a precious metal coating. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.