Electrical conductivity modification and lightning resistance of carbon fiber composites

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Electrical conductivity modification and lightning resistance of carbon fiber composites

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XIAO Yao / LI Bin / LIU Xiaoshan / ZHANG Xianfeng / DONG Jun / WEI Xiaolong

The resin matrix of traditional carbon fiber composite (CFRP) has a high resistivity, which produces a lot of resistance heat and causes damage under the strong current. Strengthening its conductivity can effectively improve the lightning protection performance of CFRP. The particles of the silver powder were added to the resin matrix for conductivity modification, and the influence of silver powder content on lightning protection performance was analyzed by finite element simulation. The optimum content of silver powder in CFRP matrix was determined to be 38%. The conductivity modification effect along the thickness direction was the best, which was improved by 217.3 times. Simulated lightning strikes test was carried out on the modified CFRP laminates with different peak lightning currents of D waveform, and unmodified laminates and the laminates with copper wire mesh on the surface were compared at the same energy level. The damage characteristics and damage area were compared by visual damage observation and perspective ultrasonic scanning to evaluate the lightning resistance of the matrix modified CFRP. The results show that the matrix modification can prevent the surface layer from breakdown and reduce the fiber fracture warping and lamination damage. Under the peak current of 20 kA, 40 kA and 60 kA, the copper wire mesh protection can reduce the lightning damage area by 100%, 86.61% and 37.46%, and the matrix modified overall protection can reduce the lightning damage area by 84.02%, 81.03% and 40.91% respectively.