New process for copper coating CFRP

Researchers at Fraunhofer-Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films in Braunschweig, Germany, have developed a method to coat plastics with copper to improve their electrical conductivity. The process has been used on antennae on the Sentinel satellite which are made in carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) with a copper coating.

In the process, the researchers first roughen the surface of the plastic with a wet chemical etching method. This allows the metal film to adhere to the surface. They then apply a very thin electrically conductive film by dip coating. A final coating is applied with galvanisation.

The technology was shown at the Hannover Messe in April, at which which other institutes in the Fraunhofer network exhibited their research into coating and plating processes.

Fraunhofer-Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA in Stuttgart has developed an electroplating testing device to check, optimize and develop coating procedures. The coated test block has design features such as angles, edges and flutes that can cause coating problems.