Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Investigating the effects of metallic submicron and nanofilms on fiber-reinforced composites for lightning strike protection and EMI shielding

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Lightning strike protection (LSP) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding topics have been extensively investigated, since composite material was first introduced to an aircraft a few decades ago. Generally, electrically and thermally conductive materials, such as metallic foils, metal mesh, ply-integrated interwoven wires, a continuous conductive path of low-resistance materials, and highly conductive nanoparticles and nanoflakes are used to dissipate the high-density current, shockwaves, electromagnetic forces/charges, and heat generated during lightning strikes. This study deals with the fabrication of pre-impregnated (prepreg) composite structures of carbon and glass fibers incorporated with submicron and nanoscale gold (Ag), silver (Au), aluminum (Al), and copper (Cu) films on top of composite surfaces during the curing process, and determining the effectiveness of LSP and EMI shielding. Initially, electrical conductivity experiments were conducted on composite test coupons and the electrical properties investigated under tensile loadings within the elastic regions of the composites. Test results indicated that the surface resistivity did not change much under the tensile loads. EMI shielding tests confirmed that noise was not audible on an AM radio because of the metallic submicron and nanoscale film surfaces on the composites. During lightning strike tests, a high current of 200-k amps was applied on the surface of the composite structures. The LSP test indicated that after the lightning strike, the resulting damage on both sides of the fiber composite was considerably low due to the metallic films co-cured on the fiber-reinforced composites. An increase in current with the metallic films certainly helped to reduce damage to the composites and avionics systems after lightning strike tests.

Lightning is initiated leading edges, which ionize, creating a strike opportunity and currents travel along the airplane and exit to the ground.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Xiangcheng L, Chung DDL (1999) Electromagnetic interference shielding using continuous carbon-fiber carbon-matrix and polymer-matrix composites. Compos Part B 30:227–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Katunin A, Krukiewicz K, Herega A, Catalanotti G (2016) Concept of a conducting composite material for lightning strike protection. Adv Mater Sci 16(2):32–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Gardner G (2006) Lightning strike protection for composite structures. In: High-Performance Composites, vol 14

    Google Scholar 

  4. Yichao L, Renfu L, Luyi L, Xianrong H (2015) Experimental study of damage characteristics of carbon woven fabric/epoxy laminates subjected to lightning strike. Composite: Part A 79:164–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Yang Y, Booma R, Irion B, van Heerden DJ, Kuiperc P, Wita H (2012) Recycling of composite materials. Chem Eng Process 51:53–68

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Alarifi IM, Alharbi A, Khan W, Asmatulu R (2015) Structural health monitoring of composite aircraft. In: Wythers MC (ed) Advances in Materials Science Research, vol 21. Nova Science Publishers, Inc., New York, pp 111–132

    Google Scholar 

  7. Rahman AKMS, Mathur V, Asmatulu R (2018) Effect of nanoclay and graphene inclusions on the low-velocity impact resistance of Kevlar-epoxy laminated composites. Compos Struct 187:481–488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Liang F, Zhuge J, Algozzini L, Tang Y, Lin KC, Gou J, Ren X, Gong X, Firsich D (2009) Electromagnetic interference shielding and lightning strike protection of carbon nanofiber paper. In: Int SAMPE Symp Exhib International SAMPE Symposium and Exhibition (Proceedings), vol 54

    Google Scholar 

  9. Black S Lightning strike protection strategies for composite aircraft. In: CompositesWorld http://www.compositesworld.com/articles/lightning-strike-protection-strategies-for-composite-aircraft)

  10. Bollavaram PK (2016) Lightning strike protection and electromagnetic interference shielding for composite structures using metallic submicrofilm and nanofilm. In: M.S. Thesis. Wichita State University, Wichita

    Google Scholar 

  11. Gardiner G Lightning strike protection for composite structures. In: CompositesWorld http://www.compositesworld.com/articles/lightning-strike-protection-for-composite-structures)

  12. Katunin A, Krukiewicz K, Turczyn R, Sul P, Lasica A, Bilewicz M (2017) Synthesis and characterization of the electrically conductive polymeric composite for lightning strike protection of aircraft structures. Compos Struct 159:773–783

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Kumar SSA, Uddin MN, Rahman MM, Asmatulu R (2018) Introducing graphene thin films into carbon fiber composite structures for lightning strike protection. Polymer Composites. https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.24850

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Alarifi IM, Khan WS, Rahman MM, Asmatulu R (2017) Mitigation of lightning strike on composite aircrafts via micro and nanoscale materials. In: Bartul Z, Trenor J (eds) Advances in Nanotechnology, vol 20. Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, pp 39–66

    Google Scholar 

  15. Zhang RX, Ni QQ, Natsuki T, Iwamoto M (2007) Mechanical properties of composites filled with SMA particles and short fibers. Compos Struct 79:90–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Hirano Y, Katsumata S, Iwahori Y, Todoroki A (2010) Artificial lightning testing on graphite/epoxy composite laminate. Composite Part A: Applied Sci Manufac 41:1461–1470

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Alarifi I, Alharbi A, Khan WS, Swindle A, Asmatulu R (2015) Thermal, electrical and surface properties of electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibers for structural health monitoring. Materials 8(10):7017–7031

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Feraboli P, Miller M (2009) Damage resistance and tolerance of carbon/epoxy composite coupons subjected to simulated lightning strike. Composite Part A: Applied Sci Manufac 40:954–967

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Wang FS, Ji YY, Yu XS, Chen H, Yue ZF (2016) Ablation damage assessment of aircraft carbon/epoxy composite and its protection structures suffered from lightning strike. Compos Struct 145:226–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Gagne M, Therriault D (2014) Lightning strike protection of composites. Prog Aerosp Sci 64:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Zhang B, Soltani SA, Le L, Asmatulu R (2017) Fabrication and assessment of a thin flexible surface coating made of pristine graphene for lightning strike protection. Mater Sci Eng B 216:31–40

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Zhang B, Patlolla VR, Chiao D, Kalla DK, Misak H, Asmatulu R (2013) Galvanic corrosion of Al/Cu meshes with carbon fibers and graphene and ITO-based nanocomposite coatings as alternative approaches for lightning strikes. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 67:1317–1323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Alemour B, Badran O, Hassan MR (2019) A review of using conductive composite materials in solving lightning strike and ice accumulation problems in aviation. J Aerosp Technol Manag 11 ISSN 2175-9146

  24. Gohardani O, Elola MC, Elizetxea C (2014) Potential and prospective implementation of carbon nanotubes on next generation aircraft and space vehicles: a review of current and expected applications in aerospace sciences. Prog Aerosp Sci 70:42–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors greatly acknowledge Wichita State University and the National Institute of Aviation Research for financial and technical support of the present study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmount Street, Wichita, KS, 67260, USA

    R. Asmatulu, P. K. Bollavaram & V. R. Patlolla

  2. Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah, Riyadh, 11952, Saudi Arabia

    I. M. Alarifi

  3. Dubai Men’s College, Higher Colleges of Technology, Mechanical Engineering Division, P.O. Box 15825, Dubai, UAE

    W. S. Khan

Authors
  1. R. Asmatulu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. K. Bollavaram
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. V. R. Patlolla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. I. M. Alarifi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. W. S. Khan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Asmatulu.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Asmatulu, R., Bollavaram, P.K., Patlolla, V.R. et al. Investigating the effects of metallic submicron and nanofilms on fiber-reinforced composites for lightning strike protection and EMI shielding. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater 3, 66–83 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-020-00135-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-020-00135-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation