Conductive plastic can protect the plane struck by lightning

"On average, once a year a passenger plane gets struck by lightning" - said in an interview with PAP Dr. Andrzej Katunin, composite mechanics expert from the Silesian University of Technology. The researcher assured, however, that planes are prepared for such events. "Since 1967 there have not been any plane crashes caused by lightning" - he noted and added that now devices and passengers are protected from the consequences of such phenomena. The worst things that happen are the cabin lights going out or backup devices turning on.

To prevent lightning from destroying an aircraft, electric charge must be quickly dispersed all over the fuselage. This prevents huge temperature from occurring at the impact point, which could damage the sheathing. However, the fuselages are built with composites based on epoxy resins. This durable plastic is lightweight, but does not conduct electricity, which is why polymer fuselage is fitted with metal mesh. When lightning strikes, it captures the electric charge and heat.

According to Dr. Katunin, this is not an optimal solution. The process for producing fuselages with embedded mesh is not simple. And besides, every lightning strike may cause sheathing burnout. The aircraft needs repairs. In addition, after each lightning strike, the machine must undergo a series of tests. Only then it can fly again.

Therefore, Dr Katunin wants to develop new solutions to protect aircrafts from the effects of a lightning strike. It will be a new composite used to built fuselages. The composition of this material will include plastics with unusual properties: conductivity. This polymer contains no metals and is very light for a conductive material. "The downside to this material, however, is that it is not strong enough to be used to build airplanes on its own" - said Dr. Katunin, but declared that he knew how to deal with this. He explained that the conductive polymer could be mixed in suitable proportions with the polymers previously used in aircraft construction. This modern composite would therefore be both durable and conductive.

The biggest challenge in Dr. Katunin’s research is to determine the composition and the production process of such composite. To this end, he must develop computer models of the composite and use them to check, how the material will behave after changing the proportions of various ingredients.

The researcher assumes that the new technology, on which he is working, will make the production process of composite aircraft parts simpler and cheaper. An additional possible advantage is that with the new composite costly repairs and tests after each lightning strike will not be needed, because lightning would in fact cause less damage.

For his research the scientist received a grant (80 thousand zlotys, approx. 20 thousand euros) from the INTER programme of the Foundation for Polish Science. Also involved in the project are researchers from Gliwice, Ukraine and Portugal.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland, Ludwika Tomala

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