Compression Strength Degradation of Nanocomposites after Lightning Strike

Abstract

This study investigated five conductive nanocomposites for their compressive strength degradation after subjecting them to a simulated lightning strike. These systems consisted of a ply of nickel-coated carbon woven fabric as lightning strike protection component besides the four plies of standard carbon fibers (AS4) fabric embedded in the epoxy (EPON 862). The other four systems had an additional protection system, which was nickel-nanostrand veil (NiNS), aligned buckypaper, random buckypaper, or mixed buckypaper made up of vapor-grown carbon fibers and single-walled nanotubes. All other buckypapers were made of single-walled nanotubes. Failure and damage mechanisms were also investigated. The ultimate compressive strength reduced by about 75—30% from a simulated lightning strike. This reduction as well as the damage was maximum with NiNS and minimum with random buckypaper. Damage from the lightning strike was related to the electrical conductivity and degradation in the compressive strength of the tested systems.