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

b.falzon@qub.ac.uk

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

stephen.hawkins@qub.ac.uk

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

e.diamanti@qub.ac.uk

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

s.kumar@qub.ac.uk

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

a.nistal@qub.ac.uk

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: b.falzon@qub.ac.uk

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