cage effect paint
On 02/21/2012 10:36 PM, K BURNS wrote:
> Metal aircraft benefit from the Faraday cage effect , as the strike
> tracks across the surface of the airframe and exits through a point on
> opposite surface.
>
> Why can we not have a layer of conductive paint to create a Faraday cage ?
Simply because the current of a lightning strike exceeds the conductive
capability of just a layer of paint.
Or more technical speaking: electrical power in Watts is voltage times
current. W=V*A. Voltage depends on current and resistance. (Ohms law,
U=I*R, Voltage is current times resistance).
So, the heat dissipated in the conductive layer depends on the current
(force of the strike) and the resistance of the conductive layer. For
paint this resistance is fairly high, so the heat generated in this
layer will be more than the paint or its carrier can handle. It will
evaporate instantly and so does the wing that carries this layer.
Frans
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