Fabrication of robust silver plated conductive polyamide fibres based on tannic acid modification.

A novel method for the preparation of silver plated conductive polyamide fibres (PA/Ag) based on tannic acid modification was reported in this work. The highly adhesive tannic acid was grafted onto the surface of sulphuric acid roughened polyamide fibres to sensitize the fibre. Then, the sensitized polyamide fibres were activated by low-concentration silver nitrate to form reactive centers. Chemical silver plating was finally carried out using silver ammonia solution with glucose. The surface morphology and chemical properties of the prepared polyamide fibres were analyzed and the surface resistance, fastness to washing, thermal decomposition properties, electrothermal properties, sensing properties and practical applications of the silver-plated polyamide fibres were also tested. The test results show that the prepared conductive fibres have excellent conductivity and stability, and have potential applications in flexible electronic devices and sensing fields.