Mechanical Properties of Nature Graphite Compacts Electroplated by Copper

Abstract

This work examines the processing and mechanical properties of graphite compacts electroplated by a copper layer. Natural graphite (NG) flakes have been compressed to make graphite compacts. A copper electrodeposit has been applied to the surface of the graphite compact in order to reinforce the mechanical properties and prevent the graphite particles from peeling off. The natural graphite flakes were stacked layer by layer in order within the graphite compact. The effects of different electroplating conditions on the mechanical properties of the graphite compacts were studied. The density of the compact reaches to a limit value when the pressure was above 100 MPa. The tests indicated that the compressive, flexural and shear strengths increase at least 150% with the copper layer. The damage mechanisms in the compacts were investigated by using a scanning electron microscopy.