Plasma sprayed electrical conductive coating on C.F.R.P. materials : microstructure and electrical properties

Abstract : Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (C.F.R.P.) materials are widely used in the aeronautical industry to increase performances of aircrafts. Some structural parts, like wings and ailerons, need to be protected against the environment, especially lightning impacts. Plasma sprayed electrical conductive coating made by atmospheric plasma spray. A parametric study has been performed to understand the influence of several projection conditions (spraying distance, scanning speed, cooling) on coating microstructure. Electrical properties were measured (in static and transient conditions) with respect to thickness of the coating. All spray conditions have shown that there is no degradadtion of the C.F.R.P. surface layer.