Process for preparing a composite part that is electrically conductive at the surface, and applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017190856-A1
Application number	US-201515129251-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 25, 2015
Priority date	Mar 27, 2014
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A process is provided for preparing a high-performance composite part that is electrically conductive at the surface. The process is used for improving the resistance of an electrically insulating part to rubbing, wear, and harsh atmospheric and/or chemical conditions, and to ensure the protection of an electrically insulating part against electromagnetic radiation (electromagnetic shielding) and/or against electrostatic discharges. The process improves the surface electrical conductivity of a material.

First claim

1 . A process for preparing a high-performance composite part that is electrically conductive at the surface having an electrically insulating solid substrate, a conductive film deposited on at least one portion of the surface of the substrate, and a metal layer deposited on at least one portion of the free surface of the conductive film,
the electrically insulating solid substrate having at least one polymer material, and the metal layer having at least one metal,
said process comprising the following steps:
1) a step of preparing a liquid composition having at least one polymer material and at least one metal in the form of filiform nanoparticles, said liquid composition comprising from 0.2% to 10% by volume of said metal relative to the total volume of the liquid composition,
2) a step of applying the liquid composition from step 1) to at least one portion of the surface of said electrically insulating substrate,
3) a step of drying, and optionally of heat treatment, of the liquid composition in order to obtain an intermediate composite part having the electrically insulating solid substrate and the conductive film deposited on at least one portion of the surface of the substrate, said conductive film comprising said polymer material and from 1% to 10% by volume of said metal in the form of filiform nanoparticles relative to the total volume of the conductive film,
4) a step of electrodeposition of at least one metal on at least one portion of the free surface of the conductive film, in order to obtain said composite part.

2 . The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electrically insulating solid substrate additionally has a reinforcing agent and/or conductive particles.

3 . The process as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the substrate has at most 10% by volume of conductive particles and/or reinforcing agent.

4 . The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the polymer material is a thermosetting polymer.

5 . The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the liquid composition from step 1) additionally has a metal identical to the metal but not being in the form of filiform nanoparticles.

6 . The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein step 1) further comprises the following sub-steps:
1 a ) a step of preparing a dispersion of at least one metal in the form of filiform nanoparticles in a solvent, 1 b ) a step of mixing the dispersion from the preceding step 1 a ) with at least one polymer material, 1 c ) a step of homogenizing the mixture from the preceding step 1 b ) in order to form a liquid composition comprising at least one polymer material and at least one metal in the form of filiform nanoparticles, said liquid composition comprising from 0.2% to 10% by volume of said metal relative to the total volume of the liquid composition.

7 . The process as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the solvent from step 1 a ) is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon solvents, oxygenated solvents, chlorinated solvents, water and mixtures thereof.

8 . The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein step 2) is carried out by spraying the liquid composition from step 1) onto at least one portion of the surface of said electrically insulating solid substrate, or with the aid of a brush, or else by immersing at least one portion of the surface of said electrically insulating solid substrate in the liquid composition from step 1).

9 . The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said process further comprises a step i), prior to step 2), of degreasing the substrate.

10 . The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the conductive film from step 3) comprises from 1% to 5% by volume of metal relative to the total volume of said conductive film.

11 . The process as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the conductive film obtained in step 3) is from 0.5% to 10% by volume of metal relative to the total volume of the conductive film.

12 . The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said process further comprises, between steps 3) and 4), a step ii) of sanding at least one portion of the free surface of the conductive film in order to adapt the surface finish before step 4).

13 . The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of Cu, Sn, Co, Fe, Pb, Ni, Cr, Au, Pd, Pt, Ag, Bi, Sb, Al, Li and mixtures thereof.

14 . The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said metal is a stainless metal.

15 . A high-performance composite part that is electrically conductive at the surface having an electrically insulating solid substrate, a conductive film deposited on at least one portion of the surface of the electrically insulating substrate, and a metal layer deposited on at least one portion of the free surface of the conductive film, said part (CP 1 ) wherein:
the electrically insulating solid substrate has at least one polymer material, the conductive film has at least one polymer material and at least one metal in the form of filiform nanoparticles, said conductive film having from 1% to 10% by volume of said metal relative to the total volume of the conductive film, the metal layer has at least one metal, and the substrate, the conductive film, the metal layer, the metal, the metal, the polymer material and the polymer material are as defined in claim 1 .

16 . A housing for an electrical and/or electronic component comprising:
a high-performance composite part that is electrically conductive at the surface as prepared as claimed in the process defined in claim 1 .

17 . An electrically insulating part having abrasion resistance, wear resistance and resistance to harsh atmospheric and/or chemical conditions, said electrically insulating part comprising:
a high-performance composite part that is electrically conductive at the surface as defined in claim 1 .

18 . An electrically insulating part that is resistant against electromagnetic radiation (electromagnetic shielding) and/or against electrostatic discharges, said electrically insulating part comprising:
a high-performance composite part that is electrically conductive at the surface as defined in claim 1 .

19 . A material having and improved surface electrical conductivity, said material comprising: a high-performance composite part that is electrically conductive at the surface as defined in claim 1 .

Assignees

• Centre Nat Rech Scient
• Univ Paul Sabatier - Toulouse Iii

Inventors

• Lonjon Antoine
• Dantras Eric
• Lacabanne Colette

Classifications

• C25D5/56 Primary

  of plastics · CPC title

• C08J7/0423 Primary

  with at least one layer of inorganic material and at least one layer of a composition containing a polymer binder · CPC title

• C25D5/18

  Electroplating using modulated, pulsed or reversing current · CPC title

• C08J2381/04

  Polysulfides · CPC title

• C08J2371/10

  from phenols · CPC title