Electroplating nickel onto carbon fibre?
 

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 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Xo43sfLgY 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

Electroplating nickel onto carbon fibre?
 

On 29-Mar-14 12:44 PM, Mike B wrote:
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 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Xo43sfLgY 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





Can you crimp?

Electroplating nickel onto carbon fibre?
 

Mike B wrote:
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 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Xo43sfLgY 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




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??

--
Steve W.

Electroplating nickel onto carbon fibre?
 

On Sat, 29 Mar 2014 12:44:52 +0800, Mike B someone@noplace wrote:

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 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Xo43sfLgY 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

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.
--
Cheers,

John B.

Electroplating nickel onto carbon fibre?
 

On Saturday, March 29, 2014 12:44:52 AM UTC-4, Mike B wrote:


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.


Mike


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

Dan

Electroplating nickel onto carbon fibre?
 

On Sat, 29 Mar 2014 12:44:52 +0800, Mike B someone@noplace wrote:

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 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Xo43sfLgY as used on metals?


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) http://www.viatrack.ca

void _-void-_ in the obvious place



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