Polymer Composites

Materials such as carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) provide the tremendous strength-to-weight ratio needed for use in aircraft, space satellites, wind turbines, sports cars, subsea oil production and sports equipment. But their use is constrained by manufacturing costs, so cheaper glass filled composites are used in less demanding applications. Another challenge is sustainability: at end-of-life, the fibers are difficult to extract and recycle. Rubber compounds are another major composite material, where researchers are trying to optimize the formulation, fillers and additives to improve tire wear, traction and rolling resistance.

Advanced composites is a competitive space for innovation in manufacturing costs, material strength, density, durability, moldability, adhesion, sustainability and much more. These issues can be uniquely addressed by exploring the atomic interactions of the constituent materials involved using modeling & simulation.