Originally Posted by
UltraFan
A question to the physicists among us. I keep hearing that Boeing and Airbus had to do some serious rethinking of lightning protection because the composite structure doesn't form the Faraday cage that the aluminium fuselage forms. It is my understanding, however, that carbon fibre is excellent conductor. And I can actually concur - the cores of my HD leads are made of it. Hence the aircraft structure made of carbon fibre reinforced composite should be a perfect conductor. So what exactly is the problem there? Carbon fibre doesn't form a Faraday cage? Or is that it's too good a conductor? Could someone please explain?
Short answer: The fibers in carbon composite are not continuous, but embedded in a non-conducting polymer matrix.