PPG Industries has received a patent for a method for generating metallic particles in situ in a solid polymer comprised of contacting the polymer with a solution comprised of a solvent, a metal salt and a free radical generator; infusing the solution into the solid polymer surface; removing the polymer from the solution that has not been infused into the polymer surface; and exposing the polymer to actinic radiation to generate metallic particles in situ in the surface regions of the polymer.
Source:
http://www.coatingsworld.com/issues/2012-08/view_patents/ppg-patents-metallic-particles-generated-in-situ-in-a-polymer/