Hydrolysis modification of nitrile groups on acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plate surfaces into carboxylic acid groups was investigated to find a new recipe for electroless copper plating of ABS plate surfaces without etching reactions using chromic acid and also without a palladium catalyst. Hydrolysis modification of nitrile groups was successfully conducted in an aqueous sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution (70 wt 9%) at 80 degrees C for more than 72 h, and nitrile groups were modified into carboxylic acid groups. The hydrolysis modification was accelerated by the addition of dioxane as a supplement to the aqueous NaOH solution. The modification, when an aqueous mixture solution of NaOH (35 wt '%) and dioxane (10 wt %) was used as a reagent, was accomplished at 65 degrees C in 30 min. The hydrolyzed ABS plate surfaces were successfully metalized by electroless copper plating. A silver catalyst, instead of a palladium catalyst, was usable in the electroless copper-plating process. Adhesion between the deposited copper metal and ABS plate surface was perfect for the Scotch tape test. Consequently, we propose a new recipe for an electroless copper-plating process without an etching process using chromic acid and without a palladium catalyst. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 111: 1034-1044, 2009