Application of Lightning Strike Protection on Thermoplastic Structures by Automated Fiber Placement

Abstract

The application of Lightning Strike Protection (LSP) material on the outer surface of a carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic part with Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) had been analysed. Beside the development of a hybrid LSP material, which fulfils the requirements of an AFP process, automated layup trials with Xenon heating flash lamp had been realised to determine capable process parameters. Furthermore, test specimens with different layup designs and material combinations had been manufactured and their electrical properties had been investigated. The fundamental trials presented in this paper demonstrate the feasibility of the integration of a LSP layer using AFP.