Modified Carbon Improved Corrosion Resistance.

Graphite or carbon particles with a graphitic skin are intercalated with a compound including an oxidized form of a metal and then reduced in a hydrogen atmosphere. This process reduces the driving force for the galvanic reaction between the particles and active metals in aqueous environments. The particles may be present as a reinforcement for a metal matrix (e.g.. graphite/aluminum metal matrix composites) or as a reinforcement for a non-metallic material (e.g., graphite/polyimide, graphite/polyester or graphite/cyanate composites). In the latter case, the composite is adjacent to a metal in a structure. By way of example, the graphite or carbon particle may he a fiber, the metal subject to attack may be aluminum or magnesium, and the intercalation compound may be NiCl2.
Supersedes PAT-APPL-004 002-93, AD-D015 741.