Electrically Conductive Graphene Enhanced Composites for Aerospace

Carbon fibre composites are used extensively in aircraft applications such as fuselages, leading edges and wing surfaces. However, because the carbon fibre reinforced epoxy composite materials are poor conductors of electricity they are prone to damage from lightning strike. This has led to aircraft companies incorporating copper or aluminium meshes into the composite materials which add significant weight and cost. The electrical conductivity of graphene enhanced composites has already been established. The aim of this new project is to develop highly electrically conductive epoxy resins through the addition of functionalised graphene which, when combined with conductive carbon fibre, is expected to  result in a  highly conductive carbon fibre reinforced epoxy composite material capable of withstanding lightning strike in its own right