Electroplating nickel onto carbon fibre?

Question

A google search revealed that it's possible, but it didn't turn up much about the techniques or materials used. Can I just use the nickel acetate method like this

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as used on metals?

I need to make electrical connections to carbon fibre used as an electrode in a carbon/epoxy capacitive sensor used in salt water, so it needs to be able to withstand soldering temperatures for a couple of seconds. A resistance of less than 100 Ohms is acceptable.

The expensive alternative is silver loaded epoxy. Carbon fibre is brittle so mechanical clamping is unlikely to give a long term reliable connection unless there are specialist connectors that I don't know about. Would weaving a metal wire through the matt before adding the epoxy achieve a reliable connection if pressure were applied during the cure process to force the wire and fibres together?

Mike

Belleman · Accepted Answer

Can you crimp?

Steve W. · Answer

Could you use the conductive paint used to repair defroster grids on  cars? Or the paint used to draw and repair traces on PC boards? Maybe paint the wires then insert them, then paint a bit more??

John B. · Answer

Depending on what you are doing, I've seen copper mesh encapsulated in a fiberglass hull for use as a capacitance coupled radio ground by simply laying it between the cloth layers as the hull was laid up. The connection was a screw terminal bonded to the inside of the hull.

dcaster · Answer

Carbon fibre is brittle so The carbon fiber also called Graphite fiber is very flexible. So you could probably get carbon fiber that is not brittle.                                               Dan

Boris Mohar · Answer

I heard that dipping it in electroless Tin plating solution works. Haven't tried it.

Regards,

Boris Mohar

Got Knock? - see: Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs (among other things)

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void _-void-_ in the obvious place

Electroplating nickel onto carbon fibre?

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