Aiming　at　the　shortcoming　of　carbon　fiber　reinforced　polymer　(CFRP)　composite　with　high-resistance　resin　matrix　producing　large　amount　of　joule　heat　damage　caused　by　lightning　under　the　action　of　lightning　current,　this　paper　explored　to　solve　this　problem　by　improving　the　conductivity　of　matrix.　In　order　to　modify　CFRP　composite　matrix,　a　conductive　filler　based　on　Ag　powder　was　added　into　the　epoxy　resin　matrix　paste　and　the　conductivity　of　the　modified　CFRP　composite　laminate　increases　217.30　times　in　thickness　direction.　The　single　D　component　of　lightning　current　with　different　peak　values　was　used　to　conduct　lightning　damage　test　on　the　modified　and　unmodified　CFRP　composite　laminates.　The　ultrasonic　C-scan　image　of　the　damaged　area,　the　residual　temperature　field　of　the　specimen　and　simulated　pyrolysis　damage　were　compared　to　analyze　the　protection　mechanism.　The　results　show　that　the　electrical　conductivity　of　CFRP　composite　laminates　is　improved　by　Ag-powder-matrix　modification,　and　the　modification　effect　is　the　best　in　thickness　direction.　Under　the　condition　of　peak　current　of　20　kA,　40　kA　and　60　kA,　the　damage　areas　of　modified　CFRP　composite　laminates　decrease　by　87.28%,　77.82%　and　88.59%,　respectively,　and　the　maximum　damage　depths　increase　by　147.06%,　130.65%　and　119.72%,　respectively.　Taking　the　damage　volume　as　the　final　index,　the　Ag-powder-matrix　modification　can　effectively　reduce　the　lightning　damage　of　CFRP　composite,　and　the　protection　mechanism　is　to　reduce　pyrolysis　and　explosion　impact　by　reducing　the　area　of　high　temperature　and　the　temperature　rise　range　under　the　action　of　lightning　current.　©　2020,　Editorial　Office　of　Acta　Materiae　Compositae　Sinica.　All　right　reserved.