Metal Coated Fibres
Our in-house metal coating capability enables us to coat individual fibres and particulates with a host of single and multi-layer metals and alloys.
Although we are well known for our advanced nonwovens and electrochemical materials, our capability extends beyond this to complementary technologies such as metal coatings. We offer the capability to coat fibres and particulates with a wide range of metals, including copper, nickel, gold and other precious metals. We operate 3 commercial electroless and electroplating fibre coating lines supported by extensive development facilities and a team of highly experienced material scientists.
Product Data
Coated Fibres
Tailored Conductivity and Shielding
Our plating expertise enables metal coating type and deposition weight to be fine-tuned to meet targeted fibre properties. In particular, this enables a unique level of control over critical properties such as the level of electrical conductivity or EMI shielding effectiveness. These properties can be tailored so that the fibres will meet specific performance requirements either in tow form or when converted into a nonwoven. The parameters modified to achieve this include:
Coating Type
Nickel, Copper, precious metals, Ni/Fe, Cu/Sn and brass
Coating deposition weight
From 10% up to 65% of the finished product weight can be achieved
Multiple coatings
Single, dual and tri-layer
“ Our proprietary technology enables superior metal-carbon bond adhesion and ensures that every fibre is consistently plated in terms of coverage and coat weight. This is no mean feat when one considers that the typical carbon tow used contains 12,000 individual filaments!”
Custom Materials
- Unique control over the conductivity & shielding properties of fibre
- Choice of coating type and deposition weight
- Multi-layer coatings possible
Flexibility in Supply
- Continuous tow
- Chopped fibre
- Ideal for manufacturing nonwovens, weaves, braided fabrics or as conductive fillers in molding plastics
Nanocoating
- We also operate a NIOSH/OSHA compliant commercial nanocoating line
- As well as a particle plating facility.
Typical Applications
Aerostructures
Conductive tow can be woven to produce a highly conductive fabric and the level of conductivity and shielding can be engineered to meet specifications.
Shielding of components or technology
Fibres, particles or coated nonwovens can be tailored to meet the required shielding attenuation values at specified frequencies or deliver electrical conductivity.
Markets
Combining properties to improve composite fabrication with functionality such as EMI shielding and conductivity, our nonwovens provide multi-functional solutions for electronic applications.
James Cropper Advanced Materials customers are among the largest aerospace manufacturers in the world, including many Fortune 100 and 500 companies. Our portfolio of products are in use on most commercial aircraft, delivering surface finish solutions, improved processing, light weighting efficiency solutions, and more.
We offer an extensive range of technical nonwovens, already qualified in aero composites and AS9100 certified, that can improve the appearance, function and ease of fabrication of AAM composites and solve a range of technical challenges faced in eVTOL aircraft and drone design. All our materials are designed specifically for use in composites, ensuring compatibility with all common resins and manufacturing techniques as well as ease of integration & use.
James Cropper has supplied materials into the Defence sector for over 25 years. Our success lies in our ability to develop materials which meet specifications that other providers can't fulfil. This means that we work closely with our customers to design a product to suit specific application requirements.
A multitude of solutions for automotive composites, ranging from Class A surface finish to friction material substrates and composite EV battery enclosures.