THE STUDY OF ELECTROLESS COATING OF NICKEL ON CARBON FIBERS

The continuity and thickness of the coating layer, are the most important factors in wetting properties and strength of carbon fibers. These factors are crucial in the quality of metal matrix composites made with carbon fibers. In this research the Polyacrylonitrail base carbon fibers have been nickel coated with 0.2, 0.5, 0.8 and 11 ,u in thickness, by the electroless method. The effect of the thickness of nickel coating on surface condition and also the tensile strength of the carbon fibers has been investigated. The study of surface condition of the coated carbon fibers by SEM showed that the nickel coating at the thickness of about 0.5 pin has the best continuity oil the carbon fibers. The results of tensile tests of carbon fibers coated with different thickness of nickel showed that increasing the thickness of coating layer decreases the overall strength of fibers.