BAE Systems PLC
Conductive bonded composites

Abstract:

The invention relates to methods of bonding and a conductively bonded joint, provided by high loadings of conductively coated nano scale particulate fillers in a conductive adhesive in combination with a conductive intermediary structure, more particularly to a lightning strike resilient bonded joint between fibre reinforced polymer composites. A method of joining a first fibre reinforced polymer composite surface and a second fibre reinforced polymer composite surface, comprising the steps of providing a conductive intermediary structure between said first and second surfaces, filling the void between said surfaces and enveloping said intermediary structure with a conductive adhesive, curing the conductive adhesive to form a bonded first and second surface. A conductive adhesive comprising a curable binder and a high aspect ratio nanoscale carbon particulate filler present in the range of from 0.1 to 40% wt, wherein said particulate filler comprises a metal coating.