Preparation and EMI shielding properties of nickel‐coated PET fiber filled epoxy composites

Abstract Electrically conductive composites were prepared using epoxy resin (EP) as matrix and nickel‐coated polyethylene teraphthalate (PET) fibers as filler. The fibers were coated with nickel by plating and ultrasonic electroless deposition techniques. The coaxial transmission line method was used to measure the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness of the nickel‐coated PET fiber/EP composites. The contents of nickel and phosphorus in the coating were determined by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). As a result, the ultrasonic electroless nickel‐coated PET fiber/EP composites showed excellent electrical conductive capability and better EMI shielding effectiveness due to higher content of nickel and lower content of phosphorus in the coating than conventional plated nickel‐coated PET fiber/EP composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 27:24–29, 2006. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers