Electrically conductive composites prepared from polymer particles coated with metals by electroless deposition

Polystyrene particles were coated by electroless deposition of copper, nickel or copper and nickel. The metal‐coated polystyrene particles were molded at high temperature and pressure into plaques, in which the metallic shell continuity was preserved and a continuous conducting metal network was formed. Very high conductivities at low metal concentrations (less than 1 percent v/v) are obtained by this procedure. The resistivity, dielectric constant, and dissipation factor of these metal containing composites are presented as functions of the metal concentration, frequency, and temperature. The metal containing composites exhibit reasonable flexural properties.