Fiber reinforced systems with electrostatic dissipation

A reinforcing and electrostatic dissipative (ESD) composite system (100) comprising:

• a. a fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite (110);
• b. a conductive filler material (130) disposed in the FRP composite (110);
• c. a conductive network (140) of wires or tape in contact with or disposed within the FRP composite (110);
• and
• d. a grounding component (160) connected to the conductive network (140);
• wherein when the system (100) is disposed on a structure (10), the FRP composite (110) is effective for reinforcing the structure (10), wherein the conductive filler material (130) is effective for dissipating static from the structure (10) and the FRP composite (110) to the grounding component (160) via the conductive network (140′, thereby reducing a risk of static ignition.

A method of reinforcing and dissipating static from a structure (10), said method comprising:

• a. providing a fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite (110) comprising:
• i. a base coating (112);
• ii. one or more reinforcing fabric plies (122), each fabric ply (122) comprising a plurality of linear pockets (124) aligned in parallel, wherein each pocket (124) is stitched lengthwise to its neighboring pockets (124) at a pocket seam edge (125);
• and a fiber tow (126) comprising a plurality of filaments (128) collected into a bundle, wherein the fiber tow (126) is disposed lengthwise in each pocket (124);
• iii. a polymer resin composition (114);
• and
• iv. a top coating (116);
• b. providing a conductive filler material (130);
• c. providing conductive wiring or tape (142);
• d. providing a connection clip (150) and a grounding component (160);
• e. preparing the structure (TO) for application of the FRP composite (110);
• f. mixing the conductive filler material (130) with the top coating (116);
• g. applying the base coating (112) to a surface (15) of the prepared structure (10);
• h. applying the one or more reinforcing fabric plies (122) over the prepared structure (10), comprising:
• i. laying the fabric ply (122) on the base coating (112);
• and
• ii. applying and saturating the fabric ply (122) with the polymer resin composition (114);
• i. applying the conductive wiring or tape (142) on an outermost layer of fabric ply (122), wherein the conductive wiring or tape (142) is divided into strips and arranged in a grid pattern (145) to form a conductive network (140);
• j. applying the top coating (116) having the conductive filler material (130) on the outermost layer of fabric ply (122) and the conductive network (140);
• k. connecting the conductive network (140) to the grounding component (160) via the connection clip (150), thus forming a reinforcing and ESD composite system;
• and
• l. connecting the grounding component (160) to a ground source;
• wherein the FRP composite (110) reinforces the structure when the polymer resin composition (114) is cured, Wherein the conductive filler material (130) is effective for dissipating static from the structure (10) and the FRP composite (110) to the grounding component (160) via the conductive network (140), thereby reducing a risk of static ignition.