Electrically Conductive Prepreg Systems

Abstract

In efforts to reduce weight and potentially reduce costs of aircraft, airframe manufacturers have been increasing their use of composite materials. A major problem with composite structures is that they lack the electrical and thermal characteristics of the metal structures they are replacing. Low cost, structural conductive prepreg materials are now being developed by Hexcel to offer solutions to these very difficult problems. These materials, which are being marketed under the Thorstrand^tm trade mark, are based on MBAssociate’s aluminum coated E-glass fiber.

This paper will provide the background on the basic fiber, and detail how this fiber has been designed into systems that provide an airframe structure with the electrical and thermal conductivity that is necessary for the satisfactory electrical and thermal performance of the structure.