Graphene could soon be protecting airliners from lightning strikes, with British company Haydale winning a contract to investigate practical uses for the “wonder material”.
The Aim-listed business is working out how to commercialise the recently discovered ultra lightweight material, which is stronger than steel yet incredibly flexible, and more conductive than copper.
Haydale’s composites unit will investigate how graphene’s electricity-conducting properties can be incorporated into the carbon fibre that is increasingly being used to build the wings and fuselages of modern airliners to reduce damage caused by lightning strikes.
Although carbon fibre is light and strong – so aircraft made from it burn less fuel – it is poor at conducting electricity, meaning that it can be damaged by lightning strikes; a regular event for aircraft. Older aircraft made mainly from metal are less at risk.
To counter the threat of damage, aircraft manufacturers now put copper or aluminium meshes into carbon fibre structures to conduct electricity away from critical areas to where it can be discharged into the air without causing damage. However, including these materials adds cost and weight.
Haydale is now entering an 18-month research programme run by the National Technology Exploration Programme (NATEP) to a develop highly conductive carbon fibre material containing graphene that can withstand lightning strikes, as well as being cheaper and faster to build than current methods.
While the idea of using graphene to protect aircraft from lightning strikes has been suggested before, this is thought to be the first practical attempt do so.
Haydale will receive at least £100,000 to fund the research project, which also involves BAE Systems and Airbus – who are likely to use the results of the research in their jets – as well as Cobham, which makes lightning strike protection systems for aircraft.
