In this work, electroless Ni-plating on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) ultra-fine fibers surfaces was carried out to improve the electric conductivity of the fiber. The surface properties of PET ultra-fine fibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and contact angle analyses. The electric conductivity of the fibers was measured using a 4-point testing method. The experimental results revealed the presence of island-like nickel clusters on the PET ultra-fine fibers surfaces in the initial plating state, and the electric conductivity of the Ni-plated fibers was enhanced with increasing plating time and thickness of the Ni-layers on the PET ultra-fine fibers.

The effect of annealing treatment conditions on the interfacial adhesion energy between electrolessplated Ni film and polyimide substrate was evaluated using a 180˚ peel test. Measured peel strength values are 26.9±0.8, 22.4±0.8, 21.9±1.5, 23.1±1.3, 16.1±2.0 and 14.3±1.3g/mm for annealing treatment times during 0, 1, 3, 5, 10, and 20 hours, respectively, at 200˚C in ambient environment. XPS and AES analysis results on peeled surfaces clearly reveal that the peeling occurs cohesively inside polyimide. This implies a degradation of polyimide structure due to oxygen diffusion through interface between Ni and polyimide, which is also closely related to the decrease in the interfacial adhesion energy due to thermal treatment in ambient conditions.