Novel materials for the next generation of lightning strike protection devices

Maintaining optimal lightning protection despite external environmental factors

Challenge

Lightning protection devices, commonly referred to as “air terminals”, are exposed to and operate under challenging envirnmental conditions. Surface alterations and contamination, often caused by water droplets and air pollution deposits respectively, can significantly impact their performance, thus result in less reliable lightning capture.

Proposed Solution

In collaboration with Swinburne University of Technology, Lightning Protection International (LPI) has developed a range of novel materials that can be additively deposited onto air terminals. With enhanced properties, these new materials will enable LPI to optimise the performance of its flagship corona-minimising technologies.

Over the next one-two years, the research team will continue to develop, integrate, and test these novel materials from industrial-level scale-up to manufacture. Under the guidance of LPI, they will build and field test the performance of full-scale prototypes.

The outcomes from this project will create a new generation of products for LPI, resulting in a “point of difference” that improves international market share. The project will contribute to building resilience in the advanced manufacturing industry within Tasmania, where LPI’s manufacturing base is located.