Pre-plating surface treatments for enhanced galvanic-corrosion resistance

A metal-coated composite material comprising:

• (a) a metal graphite composite substrate having at least one surface that is substantially free of graphite;
• (b) a metal-containing intermediate layer located on a surface of the substrate;
• and
• (c) a metal coating on the intermediate layer.

A metal-coated metal graphite composite material comprising:

• (a) a metal graphite composite substrate having at least one surface that is substantially free of graphite;
• (b) a metal-containing intermediate layer located on a surface of the substrate;
• and
• (c) a metal coating on the intermediate layer,
• wherein the composite material is made by a method comprising:
• (1) removing graphite from at least one surface of a metal graphite composite material;
• (2) chemically cleaning or plasma etching the at least one surface of the metal graphite composite material;
• (3) applying a metal-containing material to the surface of the chemically cleaned or plasma etched metal graphite composite material, and thereby forming an intermediate layer;
• and
• (4) applying a metal coating on the intermediate layer, and thereby forming the metal-coated metal graphite composite material.