Through a national Danish research project, initiated by IPU-manufacturing and the department of manufacturing engineering (IPL), have IPU increased the experience in the field of selective metallisation of polymers. Within the project the main focus is on 5 different process chains all of which will lead to polymer based components with increased functionallity due to the integrated metallic structures (typically conducting circuits or contacts).

As a direct consequence of this collaboration, IPU can offer consultancy within the following process chains and manufacturing steps for selective micro metallisation of polymers:

1. Direct metallisation of special grade polymers containing a small amount of palladium particles.
2. Two-component injection moulding using a carefully selected pair of polymer materials, of which (only) one parts can be metallised selectively.
3. Laser activation (writing of the desired tracks or pattern) of the polymer surface and subsequent metallisation.
4. Full or partial metallisation, using a combination of plasma cleaning and metal sputtering, optionally combined with laser ablation to remove the undesired metal areals.
5. Insert moulding of metallic micro parts or structures which have been manufactured in advance and are feed into injection moulding machine.

The methods described above exists in a number of variations each with different advantages and disadvantages. Structures down to approximately 0,1 mm (line width) are possible.