Studies on Electroless Ni-plating of Graphite Nanofibers in a Composite System

摘要

In this work, a new method based on nanoscaled Ni-P alloy plating on graphite nanofibers (GNFs) surfaces is proposed for the improvement of electrical conductivity of graphite nanofibers/epoxy matrix composites. Graphite nano fiber surfaces and the mechanical properties of composites were characterized by a scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic absoption spectrophotometer (AAS), interlaminar shear strength (ILSS). Experimental results observed that the island-like nickel clusters were found on the nanofibers surfaces in initial plating state, and the electric conductivity of Ni-plated GNFs/epoxy composites enhanced with increasing plating time and thickness of Ni-layers on the GNFs.