Research on the law and mechanism of arc ion coating on the surface of composite materials

Metal thin films were deposited on the surface of quartz fiber/cyanate ester composite materials using magnetic filtering arc ion coating technology. The interface deformation and stress distribution of different metal materials (Al, Cr, Cu, Ni, Ti) as transition layers were simulated. Through experiments, it was found that using Al as the transition layer had the lowest stress and the highest bonding strength, while using Cr as the transition layer had the highest stress and the lowest bonding strength; The working pressure decreases, the working current increases, and the metal deposition rate on the surface of composite materials increases. Through simulating the distribution of metal ions on the surface of composite materials and XPS testing, it was found that metal ions will form a transition layer on the surface of composite materials, and the depth of distribution increases with the increase of ion sputtering energy. Through simulation of film growth, it was found that metal deposition first nucleates at the junction of fibers and resin, grows along the fiber boundary, and finally fuses with particles between fibers to form a layered film.