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MACANTA
Multifunctional hierarchical
Advanced Composite
Aerostructures utilising the
combined properties of
different carbon NanoTube
(CNT) Assemblies
Prof. Brian G. Falzon
Principal Investigator, Queen‘s
University Belfast
Prof. Brian G. Falzon is the Head of the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at
Queen‘s University Belfast, and is Professor of Composite Materials and Aerostructures. He has over 20 years‘ experience in advanced composites, and has initiated and managed a number of research projects with academic and industry partners across Europe and Australia.
MACANTA Investigators
Prof. Stephen C. Hawkins
Co-Investigator, Queen‘s
University Belfast
Prof. Stephen C. Hawkins is Professor at Queen‘s University Belfast and Adjunct Professor at
Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He is an expert in carbon nanotube synthesis and applications, and process development.
Prof. Manu Haddad
Contributing Researcher, Cardiff University
Prof. Manu Haddad is an expert in lightning strike protection, insulation systems, earthing and safety of electrical systems.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Evmorfia Diamanti
Dr. Evmorfia Diamanti received her PhD in Materials Science and Engineering in 2014 from the University of Ioannina (Greece). She spent two years at Cornell
University (USA) as a postdoctoral researcher before starting in MACANTA in January 2016. Her research is focussed on the identification of the optimum CNT morphology with high electrical conductivity for lightning strike protection, and to develop strategies for introducing CNTs into structural composites.
Dr. Sandeep Kumar
Dr. Sandeep Kumar received his PhD in 2009 from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)Kharagpur. After four years of postdoctoral work at Washington
State University (USA) and the Adolphe Merkle Institute (Switzerland), he worked for DuPont until February 2016. His present research at Queen‘s University Belfast is focussed on structural health monitoring of multi-scale composites using different assemblies of carbon nanotubes.
Dr. Andrés Nistal
Dr. Andrés Nistal received his PhD in Materials Science from the Autonomous University of Madrid (Spain) while working at the Institute of Ceramics and Glass (ICV
-CSIC), where he continued as a postdoctoral researcher until he joined Queen‘s University Belfast in early 2016. His research interests include different aspects of carbon nanostructure-reinforced advanced multifunctional composites, and the use of CNT assemblies in carbon fibre-reinforced epoxy laminates.
www.macantaproject.co.uk
Prof. Mark J. Schulz
Contributing Researcher, University of Cincinnati
Prof. Mark J. Schulz has expertise in nanoscale smart materials and sensors, artifically intelligent structures using biomimetics, and applied/basic research developing structual & human health monitoring systems.
Collaboration Partners
Contact Details
Prof. Brian G. Falzon - Principal Investigator
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0)28 9097 5640
MACANTA
Multifunctional hierarchical
Advanced Composite
Aerostructures utilising the
combined properties of
different carbon NanoTube
(CNT) Assemblies
Objectives
Identification of the optimum morphology
and strategies for insertion of CNT
assemblies within composite laminates to
increase fracture toughness.
Successfully harnessing the piezoresistive
properties of CNT webs to provide in-situ
structural health monitoring.
Assessing improvements in surface electrical
conductivity for lightning strike protection
applications.
Investigating the effectiveness of CNT
assemblies as resistive heating elements for
anti-icing/de-icing applications.
About
Carbon-fibre composites are increasingly utilised in the latest generation of passenger aircraft. In laminated form, the superior properties of carbon-fibre composite material are tempered by the material‘s low through-thickness strength and fracture toughness. They also have comparatively low electrical conductivity which necessitates the need for additional measures to ensure adequate lightning strike protection. MACANTA brings together a research team with highly complementary expertise to increase the fundamental understanding of the influence of physical and chemical characteristics of different carbon nanotube (CNT) assemblies in pursuit of developing multifunctional composites which mitigate the known shortcomings as well as providing additional functionality. The project also provides a training platform for the skills development of three postdoctoral researchers.
Research Highlights
Improving fracture toughness through gas
phase functionalisation of CNTs
Using carbon nanotube webs for anti-icing/de-
icing applications
Decorated buckypaper for enhancing
electrical conductivity of composite surfaces
Using carbon nanotube webs for
structural health monitoring
QUB Advanced
Composites
Laboratory
Crack
initiation
Crack
sensing