Utilizing an alkaline permanganate etchant surface preparation technique, the feasibility of successfully depositing a metal film on graphite/epoxy and graphite/cyanate ester laminates was investigated. An alkaline permanganate etchant was applied by three methods: immersion, ultrasonic immersion and spray etching. Each application method was assessed as a function of two operating parameters: permanganate concentration and etching time. Resin coupons indicated that epoxy resins were more susceptible to the permanganate etchant than the cyanate ester resins. Based upon SEM analysis, the application method did not effect the surface topography. Further investigation showed that etching uni-directional cyanate resin laminates produced a surface topography that was successfully plated with a copper film through an electroless deposition process. Analysis of the copper film adhesion strength by a tape test indicated that the cyanate resin laminate have superior adhesion strength. Finally, variation of etchant concentration (40 g/L to 90 g/L) and immersion time (2 min to 4 min) had the most dramatic effect on the laminate surface topography.
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