We previously described an efficient, lightweight and flexible electro-thermal system, based on directly drawn carbon nanotube web (CNT web), as part of an icing protection system for carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite aircraft structures. The location of the heating elements on critical lifting surface leading edges or nacelle intake lips makes them particularly susceptible to impact damage, which may leave no visible mark. This makes it desirable to have both a mechanism for identifying the location of damage to the CNT structure (and by inference, potential damage to the underlying CFRP) and a process for restoring the CNT heater to full operation. With the CNT web acting as a sensor, impact damage is identified by an increase in electrical resistance and, particularly, by infrared imaging, which reveals a cold spot or zone depending upon the CNT web layup. Whereas a unidirectional CNT web layup exhibits a large increase in resistance and loss of a full width band of operation, a cross ply quasi-isotropic CNT web arrangement suffers only a small increase in resistance and a loss of function that is highly localised to the damaged area. A novel methodology, based on dispersed CNT in resin, is described for repairing and reconnecting the CNT structure and restoring functionality. A CNT web-based electro-thermal element was applied to the leading edge of a representative carbon-fibre composite wing section to demonstrate the flexibility of this system.

中文翻译：

---

用于航空航天应用的可修复碳纳米管网基电热加热器和损伤传感器

我们之前描述了一种基于直接拉制碳纳米管网（CNT 网）的高效、轻质和灵活的电热系统，作为碳纤维增强聚合物（CFRP）复合飞机结构的防冰系统的一部分。加热元件在关键升力面前缘或机舱进气唇上的位置使它们特别容易受到冲击损坏，这可能不会留下明显的痕迹。这使得需要有一种机制来识别对 CNT 结构的损坏位置（并且通过推断，对底层 CFRP 的潜在损坏）和一种用于恢复 CNT 加热器完全运行的过程。使用 CNT 网作为传感器，通过增加电阻，特别是通过红外成像来识别冲击损伤，取决于 CNT 网状叠层，它揭示了一个冷点或区域。尽管单向 CNT 网片叠层表现出电阻的大幅增加和全宽度工作带宽的损失，但交叉层准各向同性 CNT 网片排列的电阻仅小幅增加，并且功能损失高度局限于受损区域区域。描述了一种基于树脂中分散的 CNT 的新方法，用于修复和重新连接 CNT 结构并恢复功能。将基于 CNT 网的电热元件应用于代表性碳纤维复合材料机翼部分的前缘，以展示该系统的灵活性。交叉层准各向同性 CNT 网状排列仅遭受少量阻力增加和高度定位于受损区域的功能损失。描述了一种基于树脂中分散的 CNT 的新方法，用于修复和重新连接 CNT 结构并恢复功能。将基于 CNT 网的电热元件应用于代表性碳纤维复合材料机翼部分的前缘，以展示该系统的灵活性。交叉层准各向同性 CNT 网状排列仅遭受少量阻力增加和高度定位于受损区域的功能损失。描述了一种基于树脂中分散的 CNT 的新方法，用于修复和重新连接 CNT 结构并恢复功能。将基于 CNT 网的电热元件应用于代表性碳纤维复合材料机翼部分的前缘，以展示该系统的灵活性。