The Boeing Company
Conductive fastening system for composite structures

Abstract:

A conductive fastener system for connecting a composite structure to a support structure includes a composite structure hole that extends through the composite structure and shares a common axis with a support structure hole that extends at least partially through the support structure. A fastener comprising a shank having an outer surface passes through the composite structure hole and at least partially through the support structure hole and provides an annular space between the outer surface of the shank and the inner surface of the composite structure hole. The annular space is filled with a conductive paste that comprises conductive particles suspended in a bonding agent.