ABSTRACT
One way to make big weight savings is to replace metal parts with lighter plastics or composite parts. In principle, one could replace an all-metal part with a composite part that has metallic plating on its surfaces. The assembly consisted of smaller cyanate ester composite parts bonded together using an epoxy adhesive. The cured adhesive will be rendered platable by the same process used on the cyanate ester composite parts. The etched adhesive would provide anchoring sites to more strongly hold the plating. The etchant removes the cyanate ester at a faster rate than it removes the epoxy matrix of the adhesive. Cyanate ester polymers and graphite fibers comprise a composite material with excellent dimensional stability over a range of temperatures and humidities. Cyanate ester polymers are high temperature, thermoset polymers having distinct advantages for electronic applications. The assembly consisted of smaller cyanate ester composite parts bonded together using an epoxy adhesive.
