This paper presents the results of experiments on metallization of plastic elements produced using 3D printing technology from the light-hardened resins. The obtained coatings were bimetallic (Cu/Ni). The first step of metallization was the electroless deposition of copper. The second one was electrodeposition of nickel on the previously prepared copper substrate. The parameters of 3D prints preparation and metallization processes were deeply investigated. The etching of plastics substrates and duration of electroless metallization of 3D prints by copper were analyzed. In the next step the influence of nickel electrodeposition time was investigated. The coating were analyzed by XRD method and morphology of surface was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thickness of coatings was calculated based on mass differences and measured by using optical microscopy method. The optimal parameters for both processes were specified.

In this work the nickel-based coatings were obtained by electroless catalytic deposition on light-hardened resins dedicated for 3D printing by SLA method. The effect of external magnetic field application on the properties of nickel-based coatings was determined. During metallization, the magnetic field was applied to the sample’s surface with different orientations. Due to the magnetic properties of metallic ions, the influence of the magnetic field on coatings properties is expected. The coatings were analyzed by Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (ED S) the X-Ray diffraction (XRD ) methods, and surface morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The catalytic properties in a hydrogen evolution reaction (HER ) were measured by electrochemical method in 1 M NaOH solution. The best catalytic activity has been observed in the case of the ternary Ni-Fe-P alloy deposited under a parallel magnetic field. The primary outcome of the presented research is to produce elements based on 3D printing from resins, which can then be metallized and used for highly-active materials deposited on complex 3D models. Furthermore, these elements can be used as low-cost, highly-developed sensors and catalysts for various chemical processes.