Metal plated wear and moisture resistant composite actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016186328-A1
Application number	US-201414183617-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 19, 2014
Priority date	Feb 19, 2014
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A component is provided including a body formed at least partially from a composite material. At least a portion of the composite material is covered by a plating. The plating includes a layer of electroless copper, a layer of electrolytic copper, a layer of nickel strike, and a finishing layer.

First claim

1 . A component comprising,
a body formed at least partially from a composite material, a portion of the composite material being covered by a plating, the plating including a layer of electroless copper, a layer of electrolytic copper, a layer of nickel strike, and a finishing layer.

2 . The component according to claim 1 , wherein the component is an engine mounted component of an aircraft.

3 . The component according to claim 1 , wherein the component is an actuator.

4 . The component according to claim 1 , wherein the layer of electroless copper is arranged directly in contact with an exterior surface of the composite material.

5 . The component according to claim 4 , wherein the layer of electrolytic copper is positioned adjacent the layer of electroless copper.

6 . The component according to claim 5 , wherein the layer of nickel strike is positioned between the layer of electrolytic copper and the finishing layer.

7 . The component according to claim 1 , wherein the finishing layer includes an additive to enhance the wear resistance of the finishing layer.

8 . A method of plating at least a portion of a composite material component, comprising the steps of:
applying a layer of electroless copper to an exterior surface of the composite material component; applying a layer of electrolytic copper to the exterior surface of the composite material component; applying a layer of nickel strike to the exterior surface of the composite material component; and applying a finishing layer to the exterior surface of the composite material component.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the layer of electroless copper is applied directly to the exterior surface of the composite component.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the layer of electrolytic copper is applied over the layer of electroless copper.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the layer of nickel strike is applied in contact with the layer of electrolytic copper.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the finishing layer is applied over the layer of nickel strike.

13 . The method according to claim 6 , further comprising preparing the exterior surface of the composite material before the layer of electroless copper is applied.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the exterior surface of the composite material is prepared by cleaning the exterior surface with a suitable solvent.

15 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the exterior surface of the composite material is prepared by roughening the exterior surface.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Smith Blair A
• Rankin Kevin M
• Brown Ricardo O
• Kokas Jay W

Classifications

• C23C18/38 Primary

  Coating with copper · CPC title

• C23C18/1633

  Process of electroless plating · CPC title

• C25D7/00

  Electroplating characterised by the article coated · CPC title

• C25D5/14

  two or more layers being of nickel or chromium, e.g. duplex or triplex layers · CPC title

• C23C18/1653 Primary

  Two or more layers with at least one layer obtained by electroless plating and one layer obtained by electroplating · CPC title