Open Access

ARTICLE

Enhancing Lightning Resistance property of the Polymer Composites

M.K. MARICHELVAM^*, K. KANDAKODEESWARAN

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi, Tamilnadu, India – 626005.

* Corresponding Author: e-mail:

Journal of Polymer Materials 2017, 34(4), 733-745.

Abstract

Aircraft structures are redesigned by fibre-reinforced composites mainly due to their high specific stiffness and strength. However, while using the semi-conducting composites in an aircraft it may be failed due to lightning strike damage. The existing protection techniques will increase the weight and hence negatively impacts the fuel efficiency. This paper addresses an overview of the lightning damages that occur due to the usage of composites and existing protection techniques. The Plasma coating of copper and titanium nitride on the epoxy laminate was carried out to increase the electrical conductivity on polymeric composite coatings. The surface conductance of the coated and uncoated laminate was analytically determined. And the lightning strike test was experimentally carried out and finally the tensile strength of damaged and undamaged laminates were measured. Due to the titanium nitride coating, electrical conductance of epoxy laminates was increased. Further, it was observed that the weight can be reduced up to 85% with less damage on exposure to high current and temperature when compared to the uncoated laminate.

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