Effect of plating thickness on PA6/nickel-plated carbon fiber composites manufactured using LFT pellets

In this study, polyamide 6 (PA6)/metal (Ni)-plated carbon fiber (MCF) long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (LFT) composites using LFT pellets were fabricated and the variation in their mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties with plating thickness was examined. The plating thickness of MCF significantly influences the physical and mechanical properties, including electrical resistance, mechanical strength, and thermal stability, of MCF LFT composites. PA6/MCF(90), the composite with a moderate plating thickness, exhibits optimal physical properties. Especially, some properties are adversely affected on increasing the plating thickness, possibly, because the properties of MCF LFT composites are influenced by several factors, including fiber–matrix adhesion and plating uniformity. The results of this study could facilitate future studies of high-performance MCF LFT composites with tuned properties for specific applications. Highlights: CFs coated with 90, 185, and 280 nm Ni thickness were investigated. Mechanical and EMI properties of composites were determined by Ni thickness. 90 nm Ni coating induced the optimal composite properties.