METALLIC COATING OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS

摘要

A method of manufacturing a composite and of securing a metallic coating to a resin-based composite material, comprising the provision of a keying structure on a metallic electroplated preform and bringing the keying structure and the composite material together under conditions to cause the composite material and the keying structure to interlock. The invention also provides a composite (10) comprising a resin-based composite material (12) with a metallic coating (14) on a surface, or part surface (16) thereof, the metallic coating (14) comprising an outer electroplated preform, and an inner keying structure (20) which is located generally between said electroplated preform (18) and the composite material (12) to provide attachment of the electroplated preform (18) on the composite material (12).