JPS646169A - Method of electroplating carbon fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To permit uniform plating process of short-cut carbon fibers by selectively taking out the carbon fibers after completion of plating utilizing a difference in specific gravity and/or a magnetic means after the carbon fibers are plated by bring the short-cut carbon fibers into contact with a cathode as they are stirred in a plating bath. CONSTITUTION: Carbon fibers 8 are allowed to float up on the surface of a plating bath 1 by a circulation flow caused by an agitator 2 in the plating bath 1 and come into contact with a cathode 3 and energized, thereby the plating proceeds. At the advancement of the plating process to some extent, the fibers increase their own weight and their wetting properties and are sucked from the downward, then ascend again along the circulation flow, whereby the plating process is repeated in individual carbon fibers. In order to promote the separation of the plated fibers 8 from insufficiently plated carbon fibers 8, air 7 is blown from an air-blowing tube set to the lower part of the plating bath 1. When the thickness of the plated layer reaches a prescribed value, the stirring and the electric current are stopped and the fibers 8 that sediment to the bottom are taken out by opening a valve 6, whereby the short-cut carbon fibers are uniformly plated.