METALLISING A SUBSTRATE

1,244,101. Magnetic structures. EASTMAN KODAK CO. 23 Jan., 1969 [25 Jan., 1968], No. 3882/69. Heading H1H. [Also in Division C7] A substrate is coated with a ferromagnetic layer as follows: the substrate is coated with a noble metal layer, the noble metal being formed by reduction of a noble metal salt by Cul, and the so-coated substrate is contacted with a solution of a compound of a ferromagnetic element and a reducing agent therefor at a temperature whereat the noble metal catalyses the action of said reducing agent. The substrate may be polyethylene terephthalate, cellulose triacetate, other plastics, or paper, and may be coated with an adhesive polymer layer. The noble metal is Pt, Pd, or Au, and is applied either by reacting CuI and a salt thereof in solution in the presence of a binder and the substrate, or by applying CuI/binder to the substrate and immersing the CuI-coated substrate in noble metal salt solution. The ferromagnetic element is Fe, Co, or Ni, and is coated on to the noble metal layer from a conventional electroless hypophosphite bath.