Back to results
US 9,603,229 B2Granted
Composite materials
AssigneeHexcel Composites Limited
InventorsJohn L. Cawse, Martin Simmons, George Green
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A composite material, the composite material comprising at least one prepreg, said prepreg comprising at least one polymeric resin and at least one fibrous reinforcement; and conducting particles dispersed in the polymeric resin.
Claims20
An interleaf composite material which is curable to form a panel, that is not penetrated by a lightning strike, said composite material comprising:
- at least four conductive fibrous layers comprising a plurality of electrically conductive fibers;
- electrically insulating resin layers located between said conductive fibrous layers, said electrically insulating resin layers each having an average thickness and comprising a resin formulation comprising a polymeric resin;
- and
- conductive bridges that extend across said electrically insulating resin layers to provide electrical connections between said conductive fibrous layers wherein said conductive bridges comprise electrically conductive particles wherein at least 50%, of said electrically conductive particles have a diameter that is within 10 μm of the average thickness of said electrically insulating resin layers and wherein the number of said electrically conductive bridges is sufficient to prevent penetration of said composite material by a lightning strike once said interleaf composite material has been cured to form said panel.
1 more element
A method for making an interleaf composite material which is curable to form a panel that is not penetrated by a lightning strike, said method_comprising the steps of:
- providing at least four conductive fibrous layers comprising a plurality of electrically conductive fibers;
- providing electrically insulating resin layers located between said conductive fibrous layers, said electrically insulating resin layers each having an average thickness and comprising a resin formulation comprising a polymeric resin;
- and
- forming conductive bridges extending across said resin layers to provide an electrical connection between said conductive fibrous layers wherein said conductive bridges comprise electrically conductive particles wherein at least 50% of said electrically conductive particles have a diameter that is within 10 μm of the average thickness of said electrically insulating resin layers and wherein the number of said electrically conductive bridges is sufficient to prevent penetration of said composite material by a lightning strike once said interleaf composite material has been cured to form said panel.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.