Composites and lightning discussion (extracted from AF A330 thread)
Join Date: May 2009
Location: UK
Age: 41
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'carbon' and 'metalic mesh'
'carbon' conducts electricity, but 'carbon' in planes is in reality 'carbon fiber reinforced plastic' i.e. the binding material is non conductive, the fibers are, in total its not good conductor. Look for 'CNT doped CFRP' for improved conductivity (still not compared to metals).
(mentioned somewhere above about carbon being conductive in spark plugs)
CFRP structures should have some short of metal mesh or whatever to form faraday cage and/or conduct electricity, this in fact takes some of the weight savings that CFRP create (B787). Also creates 'problems' in grounding ('problems' = they have solutions). Look for references.
A350 has metal structure on which CFRP panels get integrated on, may not need so much extra metal 'mesh'.
Military aircraft have higher % of composites (CFRPs, GFRPs etc) for 'ages'. Ever wondered why B goes from metal to plastic planes in one go while A does it in steps (by steps I don't mean the A350 being plastic on metal frame)
(mentioned somewhere above about carbon being conductive in spark plugs)
CFRP structures should have some short of metal mesh or whatever to form faraday cage and/or conduct electricity, this in fact takes some of the weight savings that CFRP create (B787). Also creates 'problems' in grounding ('problems' = they have solutions). Look for references.
A350 has metal structure on which CFRP panels get integrated on, may not need so much extra metal 'mesh'.
Military aircraft have higher % of composites (CFRPs, GFRPs etc) for 'ages'. Ever wondered why B goes from metal to plastic planes in one go while A does it in steps (by steps I don't mean the A350 being plastic on metal frame)
