Nickel plating of carbon and fiberglass with the purpose of increasing the erosion resistance of PCM structures

Abstract

A method is proposed for increasing the erosion resistance of carbon and fiberglass by electrolytic deposition of a wear-resistant nickel coating on polymer composite materials. An assessment of the relative erosion resistance was carried out and the rate of erosional destruction of nickel-plated polymer composite materials was calculated when testing materials on the EI-01 laboratory installation for erosional wear developed by the authors. The effect of plasma treatment (atmospheric pressure plasma) of the surface of carbon and fiberglass on the adhesion strength of the nickel coating to the base, which was determined by the pull-off method using an Elcometer 106 adhesion meter, was studied.