Surface Modification of Carbon Fiber by Electroless Deposition of Cu, Ni, and Ag

Surface modification of carbon fibers (CFs) was performed by electroless depositions of Ni, Cu, and Ag. The electrical and mechanical properties of the resulting fibers were improved after uniform metallic depositions were achieved. Materials characterizations of the deposited layers were conducted using SEM and XRD. We determined that Cu-plated CFs exhibited better electrical conductivity than that of Ni-plated one. However, the latter showed better mechanical properties than that of the former. Under proper oxidizing heat treatment, the carbon core of the plated CF was evaporated forming an oxide tube with excellent structural integrity. The oxide tube was successfully transformed into a metallic tube after hydrogen reduction treatment.