Figure 14.

Illustration of the proposed mechanism for the CFRPs’ response at different voltage levels. At low voltage, charges travel primarily through the highly conductive carbon fibers, even with the improved conductivity of the nanofilled epoxy matrix over neat epoxy. During the lightning strike simulation, however, the electric fields are high enough to drive some current through the nanofilled matrix, spreading out the current and decreasing localized heat around the fibers when compared to the nonreinforced matrix.