PhD in Graphene/Nanoparticles Reinforced Multi Scale Carbon/Glass Composites for Advanced Aerospace and Automobile Engineering in Cranfield United Kingdom | Cranfield University

Fiber-reinforced composites offer outstanding strength and rigidity within their plane, making them increasingly popular in aerospace, sports equipment, automotive, and wind turbine blade applications. Nevertheless, these materials exhibit poor performance in their through-thickness orientation. This vulnerability can lead to delamination failures during operation, whether from mechanical stresses or impact incidents. Delamination substantially diminishes a laminate's structural integrity, particularly under compressive buckling forces, possibly causing complete collapse. Our team has engineered advanced multi-scale composites by incorporating graphene/nanoparticle reinforcements into glass/carbon epoxy matrices to enhance delamination resistance. Thanks to their nanoscale dimensions, graphene/nanoparticles can fortify the polymer matrix at a microscopic level inaccessible to traditional carbon/glass fibers. Studies demonstrate that nanoscale reinforcement of polymer matrices in fiber composites dramatically slows crack growth, minimizes delamination failures, and substantially boosts fracture toughness [Williams et al, Journal of Materials Science 48, 3, 1005-1013, 2013]. Furthermore, this approach enhances the composite material's electrical conductivity.
This research initiative will establish collaborative UK partnerships with aerospace, automotive, marine, and wind energy producers to integrate multi-scale composites that provide substantial benefits for their composite-based products.
We will investigate the application of these advanced composites in aircraft components by leveraging Cranfield University's School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing resources, including composite fabrication capabilities, carbon nanotube production, and aerospace research facilities.