— A P P L I C A T I O N
Aerospace
Astrostrike® has been trusted by military and commercial aircraft programs for decades — providing
certified lightning strike protection and EMI shielding across composite airframes, nacelles, control
surfaces, and interior structures.
— W H Y I T M A T T E R S
The gold standard for composite aircraft protection
Modern composite aircraft structures — from fuselage skins to engine nacelles — are inherently non- conductive. Without embedded protection, a lightning strike can cause catastrophic structural damage, fuel system ignition risk, and avionics failure.
Astrostrike® provides a continuous conductive network that captures strike energy, distributes it across the composite surface, and routes it safely away from critical systems. Originally selected for the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, Astrostrike® is now qualified across military and commercial platforms worldwide.
Tested to 200,000 amps per DO-160 Section 23 Zone 1A — the most severe lightning certification condition.
— K E Y B E N E F I T S
Lightning strike protection tested to 200,000A per DO-160 Section 23 Zone 1A
Electromagnetic shielding against radiation energy and RFI/EMI interference
Maximum electrical conductivity from nearly pure metal foil construction
Structural reinforcement of composite aircraft parts
Outstanding flexibility — conforms to complex compound curves and tight radii
Delivered bond-ready — no additional processing or cleaning required
Available in CX and CXMC coating options
— S U R F A C E T R E A T M E N T S
CX and CXMC coating options
Corrosion + Micro-Cracking Inhibitor
The CXMC coating is a proprietary process developed for high thermal fatigue applications. It treats both the solid base material and the metal surface to minimize the thermal expansion mismatch between the adhesive and mesh — reducing micro-cracking under thermal cycling.
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The process combines the standard CX corrosion-resistant coating with an additional MC layer that improves surface compatibility with amino-based resin systems. Performance is comparable to phosphoric acid anodizing (aluminum) for micro-cracking prevention, while maintaining full electrical conductivity. Available for both copper and aluminum.
Note: micro-cracking performance varies by adhesive system — case-by-case testing is always recommended when changing adhesive formulations.
Corrosion Protection
All Astrostrike® products are delivered bond-ready. Each product is processed through a calendering, annealing, and cleaning sequence, then coated with a corrosion-resistant primer. Both copper and aluminum products require no further processing, handling, or cleaning upon delivery.
Where ASTROSTRIKE® Is Applied
Radomes & Antennas
Radomes and antenna fairings must be electromagnetically transparent for signal transmission while still providing lightning protection. Astrostrike® mesh configurations are available in geometries that balance RF transparency with adequate strike protection — protecting antenna structures and avionics from indirect lightning effects and EMI without compromising signal performance.
Flight Surfaces
Wings, fuselage skins, empennage, and control surfaces represent the largest exposed areas of a composite aircraft — and the areas most likely to experience direct lightning attachment. Astrostrike® is embedded within the composite layup to provide Zone 1A through Zone 3 coverage across these surfaces, ensuring energy is distributed and conducted away from the underlying structure and fuel systems.
Engine & Nacelle Components
Engine nacelles, thrust reversers, and inlet cowlings are critical composite structures that must survive direct lightning attachment in the most severe strike zones. Astrostrike® provides the conductive path required to safely route strike current away from fuel lines, actuators, and engine control systems — meeting OEM and regulatory specifications for nacelle lightning zone coverage.
Interior Components
Composite interior structures — including floor panels, bulkheads, and cargo liners — require EMI shielding to protect onboard avionics and passenger safety systems. Astrostrike® mesh layers integrated into these panels create a continuous conductive barrier, blocking external electromagnetic fields and preventing internally generated emissions from interfering with sensitive aircraft systems.