Metallization of polymers by cold spraying with low melting point powders

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Metallization of polymers by metallic coatings can improve such properties as wear resistance, and impart new**properties such as electrical and thermal conductivity. There are several possible routes to applying a metal**coating, one of these being cold spray, which applies the coating by accelerating metal powders beyond a**so-called critical velocity, at which point the powder deposits onto the surface. In fact, cold spray belongs to**the coating processes known as thermal spray, but differs from the other variants in this category by virtue of**the powder remaining solid during the whole process. This avoids such problems as heat damage of the**polymer substrate and oxidation of the metal. Unfortunately, for Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer**Composites (CFRPs), which are the dominant polymer in the aerospace industry, work at McGill has shown**that only tin powders can be successfully deposited by cold spray, with maximum deposition efficiencies (i.e.**percentage of powder sprayed that is deposited) of about 16%. The supporting company, 5N Micro Powders**Inc., have developed a series of very low melting point metallic powders, so the very straightforward goal of**this Engage is to see if any of these powders are cold sprayable, and if any give better cold sprayability**characteristics than pure Sn. Any success in this field will increase the number of applications for these**powders in the form of coatings for polymers. Since the current applications for these powders chiefly resides**in the electronics area, success in coatings applications would greatly increase the sales volumes.