COMPOSITES
“Lightweighting is one of the most
interesting areas. It has always been the core use of composites, but a composite is simply a blending of materials and therefore a blending of properties. I am increasingly interested in not just lightweight but the blending of wider properties, for example high temperature or electromagnetic performance that composites can off er. Composite materials are infi nitely designable and I am really interested in applications that harness the best from diff erent material properties.”
COMPOSITES IN THE REAL WORLD When prompted for examples of how his work is being adopted in real-world applications, Hughes says: “A good example is Stratobooster, whom I have worked with to develop lightweight rocket bodies for the launch of femto (small) satellites. Another example is a project with Core6 supporting the development and testing of composites for the construction sector.” He adds; “T ere are a number of other projects I am working on but cannot name currently (defence applications, etc.), though I can say generally include high temperature (>800°C) composites for aerospace, geo-polymer composites (that are again high temperature), composite insulation materials and composites for use in rotational moulding.”
EXAMPLES OF END PRODUCTS Hughes can also off er several nice instances of his work being translated into commercial products. “Two really good examples are our Innovate UK-funded Knowledge Transfer Partnerships with Peel Jones Copper Products and Scott Bros. For Peel Jones, we have eff ectively moved the company from traditional 2D drawings to a fully digitised design and manufacturing processes. T rough the project we also captured the customer voice, which showed there is great interest in instrumentation and improving the reliability of tuyeres. T is has also opened doors for new business opportunities and commercial exposure for the company. And for Scott Bros, a haulage and plant hire business, we found a practical solution for utilising their own particular brand of unwanted ‘fi lter cake’ by creating a new geopolymerisation process to apply mineral and soil wastes into cement production, impacting on the circular economy.”
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Teesside University student using a hot platen press to manufacture thermoplastic composites
When asked what he’ll be researching
next, Hughes says, “I am very interested in improving the sustainability of the composites we are developing. Developing circular business models to support advanced materials is key to their future viability. T at is why we are now focusing on geopolymers that are waste derived and chemical methods for recovering and reusing composite plastics.” He adds: “T is is supported by my role as Chair of the IOM3 Polymer Group and co-ordinator for our Circular Economy and Recycling Innovation Centre.”
When it comes to the ultimate potential for composites in real-world applications, Hughes is pragmatic; seeing huge (and viable) potential, so long as challenges can be overcome. “I think composites, in the broadest sense, hold the greatest potential for future materials development and optimisation as we can blend and design materials and their properties for specifi c solutions so eff ectively. We must overcome the hurdle of mixed material recycling and recovery though to ensure this is a sustainable future.”
COMPOSITES COLLABORATIONS T
eesside University announced it was working with Siemens to use the engineering giant’s
Fibersim package in February 2019, and followed this up with the Connected Curriculum development in 2020. Hughes comments: “Essentially,
we are one of a small number of select leading universities in digital technologies. We will also be working with Siemens in our new Industrial Digitalisation Technology Centre, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, to provide a range of knowledge transfer
activities designed to support Tees Valley SMEs in adopting digital technologies. Opening this year, it will provide a collaborative working space and drive awareness of the benefi ts of industrial digitalisation/serious play.” ●
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