Method for attaching carbon composites to metallic structures and product thereof

A method of attaching an electrically conducting composite material to a metallic structure comprising the steps of:

• (a) fabricating at least one strong point on said conducting composite material by plating a layer of nickel on a recessed pocket area having a through hole therein, said area being adjacent an edge of said composite material;
• and
• (b) fastening said metallic structure to said composite material at each said strong point;
• wherein step a) comprises the steps of:
• (a') cleaning and roughening each said area;
• and
• (b') electroplating each said area with a predetermined thickness of nickel;
• and
• further comprising a step (a") after a' of masking said composite material except for said recessed pocket area and said through hole, and attaching a thin insulating shim strip on a ledge outlining said recessed area and substantially perpendicular thereto, and an additional step (b") before (b') of removing said shim strip to expose an unplated margin surrounding said recessed area which accommodates thermal expansion of a nickel-plated layer left on said recessed area in step (b').