PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Is the Cirrus a Coffin Maker?
View Single Post
Old 16th Oct 2006, 18:57
  #37 (permalink)  
IO540
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: EuroGA.org
Posts: 13,787
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Glass fibre + resin is an insulator, and if lightning hits it will break down the insulation, turn it into a partial conductor, and fry the material.

Carbon fibre is a relatively poor conductor, and if lightning hits then the current flow will raise the temperature of the stuff and fry it.

Metal is a good conductor.

AIUI.

That's why composite IFR planes have metal mesh embedded within the insulated sections, to conduct the current away so it cannot ionise (and destroy) the nonconductive material.
IO540 is offline