Method for making sintered metal-coated graphite for high-current collector brushes

摘要

Graphite particles as small as 38 microns are cleaned, dried and chemically plated with copper or silver. One or multiple chemical platings may be carried out to provide a uniform and thick metal coating. The plated powders are dried and then molded into a desired shape under heavy pressure in a hydraulic press or the like after which the molded shape is sintered under a hydrogen atmosphere for the subsequent fabrication into monolithic or multi-elemental brushes for high-current collectors.