Metal Plated Conductive Carbon fibers (MPCC) combine the high electrical and thermal conductivity properties of metals with the high strength and low weight of carbon fiber materials. These synergistic combinations of materials provide composites and/or plastics designers and engineers with new opportunities and tools to impart conductive, electromagnetic interference (EMI), grounding properties and other electrical properties to their products. Typical applications include medical, lightning strike, electronic enclosures, heaters and composite fabrications.

 

         Electro Fiber Technologies (EFT) utilizes a novel patented plating technology that can plate carbon tows ranging from 6K to 80K with a variety of metals and metal hybrids. The products can range from 10%-65% metal by weight. To date, Nickel and Copper/Nickel hybrids have been the primary metals of choice but the process can be adapted to plate other metals such as silver, gold, platinum and palladium. The process utilized is continuous and produces very consistent and highly adhering coatings. Comparative Scanning Electron Micrographs (SEM) can be seen in Figure 1. Note the separation of fibers and the consistency of coating of the EFT vs. a competitive fiber supplier. Resistance values for products can be as low as 0.2 ?/meter .depending on weight % of metal and tow count.