A previous study showed that Cu can be cold sprayed onto carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) if a Cu interlayer is deposited prior to low-pressure cold spraying. In this present study, Cu was cold sprayed onto CFRP substrates that were coated with either Sn (cold spray) or Ni electroplating. Two layers of Cu powder were also cold sprayed onto a Cu-plated CFRP substrate to investigate the effect of a second particle layer on impacting particles. Test results showed that the relative hardness between the particle and substrate has a major effect on deformability, impact mode, and deposition efficiency (DE), which explains why Cu could not be cold sprayed onto Sn or Ni interlayers and why the deposition efficiency of Cu-on-Cu substrates is lower than that of one pass spraying. In summary, the results suggest that Cu can be successfully cold sprayed at low pressures onto electroplated Cu due to their similarity in hardness.

A copper electroplating method revealed that recently developed commercial Al 2 O 3 thermal spray coatings did not have the well-known lamellar structure but instead had a structure that was made up of tightly bonded particles, with many vertical microcracks in the coating. The coating in the study was prepared by the atmospheric plasma spray system. The copper electroplating method was applied to observation of the Al 2 O 3 thermal spray coating structure. Spray coating specimens were electroplated in an aqueous solution containing CuSO 4 , H 2 SO 4 , CuCl 2 , and additives so that copper was deposited in small pores and narrow cracks in the coatings. Copper in the Al 2 O 3 coatings was observed clearly by scanning electron microscopy, which also revealed the coating’s structure (boundaries of flattened particles and vertical cracks). The coating did not have a lamellar structure (horizontal apertures between flattened particles) and it was dense in spite of the many microcracks.

Pratt & Whitney's upper stage rocket engine development program, designated "RL60", has incorporated cold-sprayed copper to improve the design and function of this new engine. Combustion chamber designs contain two stainless steel manifolds connected by a series of copper tubes. The manifold where the hydrogen fuel exits is located near the injector face. The combustion gases from the injector would cause over-heating of this manifold. Thick copper application was needed to actively cool this manifold by conducting the cold temperatures from the hydrogen fuel inside the copper tubes. Plating copper greater than 0.050-inch thick resulted in poor adhesion following a subsequent braze cycle and required 2 weeks to plate. Cold sprayed copper was attempted which has surpassed plated copper in its ability to adhere through this braze cycle and can be applied in a few hours. In addition, the hazardous chemicals associated with copper plating have now been eliminated.