Discontinuous Insulating Primer for CFRP Electrostatic Dissipation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cosmetic coatings on conductive materials can inadvertently cause electrical surface discharges due to electrostatic charge accumulation, which is undesirable but cannot be addressed by making them conductive without compromising galvanic corrosion protection and other functional benefits of insulating coatings.

Innovation Solution

Applying an insulating primer discontinuously to carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) components, creating unprimed areas for electrostatic dissipation while maintaining protection against galvanic corrosion and other functional benefits, such as radiation protection and adhesion enhancement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an insulating coating is applied to conductive materials to prevent galvanic corrosion and provide functional benefits, then corrosion protection and functional performance are improved, but electrostatic charge accumulation occurs leading to electrical surface discharges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrosion protectionVSAvoidelectrical surface discharges

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The coating is applied discontinuously to create segmented coverage with alternating primed and unprimed portions along the longitudinal axis, allowing electrostatic charges to dissipate through unprimed portions while maintaining corrosion protection in primed portions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the coating have different properties: primed portions provide insulation and corrosion protection, while unprimed portions provide electrostatic dissipation pathways to ground

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the insulating coating is made conductive to eliminate electrical surface discharges, then electrostatic charge dissipation is improved, but galvanic corrosion protection and other functional benefits are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrostatic charge dissipationVSAvoidgalvanic corrosion protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coating is divided into discrete segments along the longitudinal axis, with unprimed segments providing conductive pathways for electrostatic dissipation while primed segments maintain insulating properties for corrosion protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The unprimed portions of the coating act as intermediary zones that provide controlled electrostatic dissipation without compromising the insulating barrier function of the primed portions, effectively mediating between the need for both insulation and conductivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Effectively reduces or eliminates electrical surface discharges without inhibiting galvanic corrosion protection or disrupting other functional benefits of insulating coatings, ensuring safe and reliable operation in environments prone to electrostatic buildup.

Implementation Method 1

The unprimed portions are configured to enable electrostatic dissipation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic discharge: Electrostatic Discharge

Implementation Method 2

insulating coatings may mitigate or prevent galvanic corrosion of metallic aircraft components by preventing charge mobility

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGalvanic corrosion prevention:

Data Source

PatentEP2167242B1Application of insulating coating

Publication Date: 2017.10.18 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

Systems and methods for discontinuously applying an insulating primer to a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) component are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for mitigating electrical surface discharges from a CFRP component includes first applying an insulating primer to a metallic component. Next, an insulating primer is applied discontinuously to the CFRP component adjacent the metallic component. The discontinuous application of the insulating primer forms a primed portions and unprimed portions. The unprimed portions are configured to enable electrostatic dissipation.