Carbon Fibre 20% and 50%

[*MAD DOG*]

Just for all those Carbon Fibre freaks out there I thought i'd let you all know (if you didn't already) that the A380 Airbus is 20% Carbon Fibre and the Boeing Dreamliner is 50% Carbon Fibre.

Pictures Below

[*MAD DOG*]

They use carbon fibre for its weight savings. But there is one major downfall with carbon fibre, it conducts electricity and in airplanes that could lead to disaster if a lighting strike was to occur. I'm sure they have engineered something to keep the planes safe.

[rogue yaris]

This is one of the big reasons there was a shortage of carbon a couple years back. The manufacturers had to tool for increased production and are keeping up much better now.

[eTiMaGo]

saw a documentary on the A380, the whole rear vertical is basically one giant piece of CF, the biggest CD structure ever created, or something like that, there's a whole factory dedicated to making them, in Spain.. Fascinating plane, a true European team effort, of course with pleeeenty of pitfalls :laugh:

[Altitude]

... But there is one major downfall with carbon fibre, it conducts electricity and in airplanes that could lead to disaster if a lighting strike was to occur. I'm sure they have engineered something to keep the planes safe.

Exactly why is that a downfall? Doesn't all that metal also conduct electricity?

[*MAD DOG*]

True, but I was watching Air Crash Investigation on National Geographic Channel last night and they had a helicopter struck by lightning out at sea. The reason why was the rotor blades both main and tail rotor was made of cf and he flew through a cumulo nimbus (not sure of spelling) cloud and it tore the tail rotor apart.

[Latka]

It's CF...and it's... PAINTED! :)

How can CF conduct electricity? I hadn't heard that one before.

[*MAD DOG*]

It's CF...and it's... PAINTED! :)

How can CF conduct electricity? I hadn't heard that one before.

Carbon fibre is made from Graphite. It is woven into a pattern. The graphite in the carbon fibre is electrically conductive. They use graphite in zinc-carbon batteries.

[Latka]

Got it. Sorry - was posting when I was brain dead. :)

[TKO]

Carbon fibre is made from Graphite. It is woven into a pattern. The graphite in the carbon fibre is electrically conductive. They use graphite in zinc-carbon batteries.

Wow...thats news to me! I had no idea.

[darthbauer]

And my company makes IFE for both of them!

[darthbauer]

Yes in flight entertainment and no, not strippers.

[*MAD DOG*]

Carbon Fibre Strippers Eh! Anyone up for a group buy? ;)