New model-based concepts for nano-engineered polymer composites.

New model-based concepts for nano-engineered polymer composites. This project aims at developing a new class of polymer composites that will respond differently to externally applied mechanical loads as compared to traditional composite materials. New concepts to control damage accumulation and failure will be proposed for the development of polymer composites with a breakthrough performance in damage resistance. Focus will be on modelling, designing, manufacturing and characterizin carbon fibre composites based on nano-engineered epoxy matrices. Matrix nano-engineering involves the dispersion and model-based tailored positioning of nano-reinforcements, such as carbon nanotubes, in structurally hierarchical, multi-phase epoxy media.

Keywords:Damage resistance, Carbon fibres, Carbon nano tubes, Manufacturing, Modelling, Hierarchical multi-phase polymer matrix, Characterization, Polymer composites

Disciplines:Process engineering, Polymeric materials, Composites and hybrid materials, Macromolecular and materials chemistry, Condensed matter physics and nanophysics