Processing Technology of Electroless Copper Plating on Graphite Powder by Iron Powder and Formaldehyde

The processing technology of electroless copper plating on graphite powders by iron powder method and formaldehyde method were studied and evaluated.The iron powder method could produce highly covered copper/graphite powders with 25%-75% copper under processing following conditions:graphite powders being pretreated by complex surfactants,plating solution added slowly,graphite and iron powders agitated at 40-60 ℃,electroless copper plated for 15-20 minutes at 1.5-2.0 pH and dried at 50 ℃.Sensitization and activation processes were very important stages in formaldehyde method.Because of the expensive reagent and low covering rate of copper/graphite powders and poisonous by-product in the formaldehyde method,the iron powder method is recommended.