Abstract:
Multimetal deposition (MMD) has not found routine
application because of its complexity and inconsistent results. Recent
research that sought to overcome these problems resulted in the
development of a new formulation known as MMDll. MMDll utilizes
smaller colloidal gold particles (14 nm as compared to 30 nm) and an
alternative physical developer (silver acetate/hydroquinone rather than
silver nitrate/iron(II)iron (Ill). Several MMD formulations were evaluated
in this study, and MMDII proved to be the superior formulation,
giving better overall print detail. On nonporous surfaces, MMDII may
offer further print development than that achieved with cyanoacrylate
fuming (CA) and luminescent staining, but vacuum metal deposition
(VMD) always gave superior results to MMD. MMDII and VMD were
compared to standard techniques on a number of semiporous surfaces,
including expanded polystyrene, waxed paper, latex gloves, and nitrile
gloves. MMDII proved to be the technique of choice on these surfaces.
The ability of MMDII to react with print residue within and on the
surface is believed to be important to its success.
