INTEGRATED LIGHTNING PROTECTION AND ELECTRICAL DE-ICING FOR AERODYNAMIC STRUCTURES

摘要

An example method includes: forming a conductive layer on at least a portion of a surface of a substrate, where the substrate comprises a composite material of an aerodynamic structure, and where the conductive layer is configured to provide a conductive path to conduct an electric current generated by a lightning strike to an electrically-grounded location; depositing an insulating layer on the conductive layer; removing one or more portions of the insulating layer to form respective gaps in the insulating layer and expose corresponding one or more portions of the conductive layer; and forming a resistive-heater layer on the insulating layer such that the resistive-heater layer fills the respective gaps in the insulating layer and contacts the corresponding one or more portions of the conductive layer, such that when electric power is provided to the conductive layer, the electric power is communicated to the resistive-heater layer thereby generating heat therefrom. (Fig. 12)