# US 11,114,835 B1 · Composite lightning strike protection system

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- Number: US 11,114,835 B1
- Document ID: US11114835B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/390,137
- Filed: 2019-04-22
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2019-04-22
- Assignees: Touchstone Research Laboratory, Ltd.
- Applicants: Dwayne R. Morgan; Brian L. Gordon; Neven W. Cook
- Inventors: Dwayne R. Morgan; Brian L. Gordon; Neven W. Cook
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11114835B1

## CPC

- H02G 13/80: {Discharge by conduction or dissipation, e.g. rods, arresters, spark gaps}
- B32B 5/18: characterised by features of a layer {of} foamed material
- B32B 5/245: {another layer next to it being a foam layer}
- B32B 7/025: Electric or magnetic properties
- B32B 7/027: Thermal properties
- B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
- B32B 9/007: {comprising carbon, e.g. graphite, composite carbon}
- B32B 9/045: {of synthetic resin}
- B32B 9/046: {of foam}
- B32B 9/047: {made of fibres or filaments}
- B64D 45/02: Lightning protectors; Static dischargers
- H01B 1/04: mainly consisting of carbon-silicon compounds, carbon or silicon
- B32B 2255/26: Polymeric coating
- B32B 2260/046: Synthetic resin
- B32B 2262/101: Glass fibres
- B32B 2262/106: Carbon fibres, e.g. graphite fibres
- B32B 2266/04: Inorganic
- B32B 2307/202: Conductive
- B32B 2307/302: Conductive
- B32B 2307/304: Insulating
- B32B 2307/732: Dimensional properties
- B32B 2571/00: Protective equipment
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K})

## Abstract

A carbon-based lightning strike protection system is described that utilizes flexible graphite and porous carbon. The carbon-based lightning strike protection system may be produced in the form of a panel that may be applied over the surface of an object to be protected or may be created directly over the surface of the object. The carbon-based lightning strike protection system is readily adaptable to high temperature applications.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lightning strike protection system comprising:
a graphite spreader shield layer, wherein the graphite spreader shield layer comprises flexible graphite having an in-plane electrical conductivity that is about 100 times greater than the flexible graphite through-plane electrical conductivity; and
a porous carbon thermal insulating layer comprising carbon foam having a thermal conductivity below about 0.5 W/mK and a thickness not greater than about 0.5 inches, wherein the porous carbon thermal insulating layer is positioned between the graphite spreader shield layer and a surface of an object to be protected.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lightning strike protection system of claim 1, wherein the graphite spreader shield layer exhibits an in-plane electrical conductivity of at least about 1500 S/cm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The lightning strike protection system of claim 1, wherein the graphite spreader shield layer exhibits thank you then fine thank you yeah I think so thanks so a through-plane electrical conductivity is less than about 20 S/cm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The lightning strike protection system of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the graphite spreader shield layer is less than about 1 mm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The lightning strike protection system of claim 1, wherein the graphite spreader shield layer exhibits an in plane thermal conductivity that is about 100 times greater than the graphite spreader shield layer through-plane thermal conductivity.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The lightning strike protection system of claim 5, wherein the in-plane thermal conductivity is less than about 500 W/mK.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The lightning strike protection system of claim 5, wherein the in-plane thermal conductivity is less than about 400 W/mK.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The lightning strike protection system of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive between the graphite spreader shield layer and the porous carbon insulating layer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The lightning strike protection system of claim 8, wherein the adhesive is a graphite adhesive and exhibits a use temperature of at least about 1000 C.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The lightning strike protection system of claim 8, wherein the adhesive is an epoxy adhesive.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The lightning strike protection system of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the flexible graphite has a value ranging from about 0.25 mm to about 1 mm.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The lightning strike protection system of claim 1, further comprising a cover layer, wherein the metallic spreader shield layer is positioned between the cover and the porous carbon thermal insulating layer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The lightning strike protection system of claim 12, wherein the cover layer is selected from the group consisting of carbon fiber prepregs and glass fiber prepregs.