Permeable materials capable of lightning strike protection and use thereof in resin infusion processing

A permeable material that is porous and permeable to fluids, comprising:

• a. a first nonwoven veil and a second nonwoven veil, each comprising randomly arranged fibers;
• b. a porous electrically conductive layer having openings through its thickness;
• and
• c. a binder distributed, in a non-continuous manner, throughout the first and second nonwoven veils and between each nonwoven veil and the conductive layer such that the first and second nonwoven veils remain porous and most or all of the openings in the conductive layer are not blocked by the binder;
• d. a reinforcement textile comprising a third nonwoven veil bonded to a layer of unidirectional fibers,
• wherein the conductive layer is sandwiched between the first and second nonwoven veils, and the reinforcement textile is adhered to the second nonwoven veil,
• wherein the binder comprises a blend of epoxy resin and thermoplastic polymer, but is void of any catalyst or cross-linking agent which is active above 65° C., and
• wherein the reinforcement textile is porous and permeable to fluids.