Aircraft

Carbon fiber composite material has become the main material of aircraft. But the composite material is a poor conductor of the current and easy to be damaged in the lightning strikes. Micro expanded metal covers on the surface of composite material to dissipates the lightning strikes, prevent lightning striking damage, supply protection to composite material, and extend aircraft critical components’ safe. 

Aluminium has been the principal material used in aircraft and aerospace construction for the past 70 years. With the growing interest to construct more efficient aircraft, manufacturers are designing more components out of light-weight composite materials. The new generation of aircraft utilizes carbon fiber for major structures including the fuselage, wing, engine nacelles, flaps, wing tips, and even rotary blades and fuselage on helicopters.  Composites, however, are poor conductors of electrical current. Without proper protection, they are susceptible to severe damage in the event of a lightning strike. When PEMPL expanded aluminium and copper micromesh materials are incorporated into the surface of these composite structures, the lightning strike energy is dissipated over the surface of the component, which prevents damage to the composite material below.

Micromesh precision expanded metal foils from PEMPL are the materials of choice for lightning strike protection in composite aircraft structures. With the rising development of the technology with all major aircraft OEMs and the configurations available in the industry. PEMPL is the preferred supplier on many of the new generation designs and for the aircraft and rotorcraft manufacturers around the world. Aircraft manufacturers realize the benefits of using advanced expanded materials over the outdated technology of woven wire.

PEMPL’s Micromesh single unit structure is superior to woven material in that it won’t unravel or have loose strands that become problematic during processing into a pre-preg material or when conducting a dry lay-up. The homogeneous design also ensures uncompromised conductivity between strands when forming the material to a variety of shapes and contours and provides a smooth surface on the end product. PEMPL’s Micromesh biggest advantage is ability to tightly control the manufacturing process to meet a specific weight, open area, and conductivity requirement. This allows engineers the option of varying materials according to specific strike zones on the aircraft, minimizing the overall weight. Our common materials have the ability to withstand a Zone 1A strike of 200,000 amps.

PEMPL Micromesh is an expanded metal foil used for aircraft lightning protection where composite materials are used. Expanded metal foil found to have numerous advantages over other systems. PEMPL micromesh products include a variety of configurations in both copper and aluminium to meet a wide range of design objectives.

Available in 1 meter wide coils, PEMPL micromesh is expanded into a single, uniform, precision structure. The manufacturing process is closely controlled to meet weight, conductivity, and open area requirements.