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MTM research

Structural Composites

and Alloys, Integrity

and Non-destructive

Testing

(SCALINT)

Sustainable Metals

Processing

and Recycling

(SeMPeR)

Surface and Interface

Engineered Materials

(SIEM)

TC Materials Technology

(GroepT, De Nayer, KHLim,

Kulab en KaHO St Lieven)

Composite Materials Group

coordinated by Stepan Lomov

MTM, 9th October 2014

MTM research

Structural Composites

and Alloys, Integrity

and Non-destructive

Testing

(SCALINT)

Composite Materials

Metals andAlloys

MaterialsPerformance

andNon-

destructiveTesting

Personnel status 1st of October• 1 Professor, 3 Professors @ FET• 6 Postdocs

- 2 research experts/managers

- 4 postdoctoral researchers• 25 researchers

Composites on micro- and

nano- level

Larissa

Gorbatikh

(res. expert)

Physical chemistry of

composites

David Seveno

(prof 95%)

Natural and bio-composites

Aart Van

Vuure

(50% FET)

Processing & application

development

Jan Ivens

(FET)

Frederik

Desplentere (FET)

Composites on macro- and

meso- level

Stepan Lomov,

CMG

coordinator

(res.manager. + prof 10%)

Research mission

• Carry on fundamental and applied research in mechanics and physics of composite materials on wide scale range from nanometers to meters

• Create, in close collaboration with industry, new composite materials for sustainable technical progress and economical growth

• Address in the materials research societal challenges related to energy, mobility and health

• Maintain the research standing of the Department as a centre for European and world-wide research in the field of composite materials

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Active research topics: Macro-mesoResearch topic,

led by...

Outcome Valorisation Illustration

WiseTex software:

virtual textile

composites

S.V. Lomov

Prediction of mechanical

behaviour and

optimisation of textile

reinforcements.

State-of-the art software

package

Commercialised by

LRD, ~50 licenses

Industry: Snecma,

ESI, MSC, Siemens...

EU and national

funding.

Damage in fibre

reinforced

composites, fatigue

S.V. Lomov,

L. Gorbatikh

Detailed experimental

study and theoretical

predictions of damage

initiation and progression:

textile and random fibre

composites

Industry: Owens

Corning, Airbus, 3Tex,

Siemens, Asco,

Toyota ...

EU and national

funding

Manufacturing of

textile composites

S.V. Lomov

J. Ivens

Models for textile

deformability

Full-scale lab: textile

characterisation

Advanced manufacturing

processes

Industry: Airbus,

Samsonite, ESI...

EU and national

funding

Research

direction

Focal points Valorisation

Nano-engineered

and natureinspired

composites

Larissa Gorbatikh

Stepan Lomov

• Understanding toughening

mechanisms

• Development of advanced multi-

scale models

• Nano-structure control and

optimization

• CNT dispersion and localization

CNT fiber sizing is

patented by LRD

Industry: Nanocyl

Funding:

EU FP7, SkolTech

Hybrid and

ductile

composites

Larissa Gorbatikh

(Ignaas Verpoest)

• Designing ductility and impact

performance through fibre

hybridization

• Development of strength models

• Exploring new fibers for use in

composites: ductile steel fibres

Self-reinforced CF

hybrids are patented

by LRD, Industry:

Toray, Propex,

Bekaertt (for steel

fibers)

Funding: EU FP7,

SIM

Engineering

pseudoductility in composites

Larissa Gorbatikh

Jan Ivens

• Developing concepts for

pseudo-ductile behavior in brittle

composites

• Discontinuous reinforcements

• In-situ characterization of the

failure process

• Micro-structural design for

tailored performance

Recent research

Funding: IWT and

FWO national

funding (submitted)

Composites at micro & nano scales

Natural fibres, bio-based composites; processes and applications

Research direction Focal points Funding &

collab.

Extraction and

processing methods

J. Ivens, A. Van Vuure

Extraction methods for flax, bamboo

(mechanical, chemical, enzymatic);

prepregging

SIM, IOF, CELC, Columbia

Durability of natural

fibre composites

Aart Van Vuure

Jan Ivens

Modification of the natural fibre for

resistance to hygromechanical and

fatigue loading; improvement internal

interfaces

Impulsfund, FP7 MultiHemp &

Biobuild, Canada

Modification of fibre-

matrix interface

A.Van Vuure D.Seveno

Physical-chemical-micromechanical

surface energy characterisations,

fibre treatments, matrix modifications

FP7 Biobuild, Swiss project,

Akzo Nobel, UCL

Development of bio-

based matrices

Aart Van Vuure

Gluten biopolymers and (reduced)

gluten based composites and fibres

SBO, BioengineeringCIT

, Chemistry

Development and

improvement of

manufacturing

Frederik Desplentere

Jan Ivens, S.V. Lomov

Material – rheology – processing –

product relationships in IM and

extrusion processes; Biopolymers

and biocomposites in IM

Optimization of thermoforming

National, EU & KU Leuven

Flemish ind.IKV, CTB,

Foam development

for head protection

Jan Ivens

New helmet concepts for improved

resistance to oblique impact;

development of test methods for foam

and helmet property determination

National, EU & KU Leuven

BMe, UZ, universities & industry

vapour

liquid

Micro

balance

F (µN)

R

Physical chemistry of composites

Research direction Focal points Funding

& collab.

Composites at the

nanoscale

David Seveno

• Hierarchical multi-scale

modelling, from atomistic to

mesoscale

• Establish a link between the

physico-chemistry and the

mechanical performances

FWO (submitted) &

Penn State

High temperature

wettability

David Seveno

Aart Van Vuure

• Direct measurement of the

affinity between fibers and

polymer matrices

• Thermoplastics &

Thermosets

EU

Directed self-

assembly through

engineering

solid/liquid interface

David Seveno

Larissa Gorbatikh

• Engineering surface of fiber

to self-assemble

nanoparticles

• Modelling of the

nanoparticles/fiber

surface/polymer matrix

interactions

BELSPO, KU Leuven, FWO

(submitted), UMons

Epoxy network CNT & Catalyst particles

PLA/glass fiber Liquid Furan on top of solid

Furan

Capillary rise in a Nanotube Nano-Wilhelmy

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Future research highlightsMacro-meso structural level

• damage/forming/permeability models fully integrated with virtual textiles and micro-CT• full meso-macro integration of textile/random fibre composites models

• integrated numerical tools and material characterisation for out-of-autoclave

Micro-nano structural level

• hybrid composites with a “frog leap” in toughness

• scale shift of damage in nano-composites; tough materials exploiting this principle

• atomistic, molecular dynamics and meso-scale modelling integrated with continuum

mechanics of heterogeneous media

Natural composites• bamboo technology is spin-offed

• flax European integration, technical standards for flax reinforcements

• Set-up of durability assessment infrastructure (including interfaces) and first treatments

Process and application development• Integrated numerical-experimental optimization methodology for thermoforming

• Natural fibre and biopolymer applications in extrusion and IM

• Bicycle helmets and test standards for rotational impact

Physical chemistry of composites

• Modelling of curing processes via Reactive Molecular Dynamics simulations

• Characterization of natural fibers from the atomistic to the meso scale

• Wettability at the nanoscale

Together strong at MTM: CMG expertise

Experimental Theoretical Software

Mechanical testing of

composites and

porous materials

Production of

composites

Fundamental

mechanics of

heterogeneous

materials and

composites

WiseTex and VoxTex

software

(commercialised by

KU Leuven)

Optical full-field strain

measurements

Small-scale

mechanicals testing

Textile and fibre

mechanics

Abaqus experience

and active usage,

including Python and

Fortran routines

Acoustic emission

studies of damage

microCT for

composites, fibrous

and porous materials

ab initio and

atomistic/molecular

modelling

Didactical software:

mechanics of

composites

Fibre and textile

testing

Mechanics of fracture

and damage

MatLab, C++

programming

Physical-chemical-

micromechanical

analysis of interfaces

Contact angles,

micromechanical

testing

Surface energy

analysis

Molecular modelling

Collaboration within KU Leuven

Department MTM:• full support of “one large research

group” principle• support of infrastructure and technical

personnel• intra-division and inter-groups links• integration with SLC

Composite Materials Group

NDT:M. Wevers

Nano:M. Seo

FET-campusesA. Van Bael

P. Lava

Surface:J. Fransaer

KU Leuven network:• Leuven Materials Research

Centre• Hercules

• Kulabs

Composite Materials Group

PMA:D. Vandepitte

CIT:P. VanpuyveldeP. Moldenaers

Chemistry:B. Goderis

E. Nies

Computer Science:D. Roose

Bio-Engineering:J. Delcour

Collaboration in Europe

Flanders• Strategische Initiative Materialen• IWT, FWO, M-ERA.net• Close collaboration with UGent, VUB, UA

• Industrial networkBelgium• Close collaboration with UCL, UBL, Mons• Federal programs: natural fibres• Industrial networkEurope• Horizons 2020• Informal strong links (Milan, Lyon, Bristol …)• Erasmus exchange• Industrial network

Akzo Nobel

FHNW

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Collaboration internationalFormal long term, with funding• Japan: Toray chair, Osaka

University

• Russia: SkolTech• Vietnam: CanthoInformal but productive• Visiting researchers• WiseTex users• Lecture coursesWorld-wide efforts and events• ICCM, ECCM, SAMPE• Benchmark exercises

research collaborations

Chair for Carbon

Composites:

Toray Professors:

2012-2015 Ignaas

Verpoest

2015-2018 Stepan

Lomov

Research funding, October 2014

33%

33%

22%

7%5%

EU

National

Bilateral

KU Leuven

Software licensing

Actions for 2015-2020

CMG approaches to sustainable research:

1. Diversification of funds (EU : Flanders : KU Leuven : Industry : International)

2. Sequence: fundamental (C1, FWO, some EU, SBO) � applied (C2/C3, EU, O&O, Industry)

3. Project duration at least 2 years (industry), 3-4 years public funding.

4. Collaboration with SLC on applied, process and application projects, and on knowledge dissemination

5. Industrial network, solid university partners in Flanders, large EU/Japan/Russia/USA network

6. Selectivity in partners choice (“top”), combined with “trial” collaboration

7. Visiting researchers and International Scholars

8. Cluster funds, create teams, enhance inter-project exchange

9. Commercialise, but keep open scientific exchange

TopicAim Targeted actions Rem

arks

Potential

MTM-related

short term

actions

• Roadmap: lab modernisation

• Sustainable funding

• International visibility

• Overview of the lab status; retrofit Instron

• FWO, SIM, H2020 proposals

• New industrial contracts

• Prolongation Toray chair

• Actualisation web site

High level 5

year goals

• CMG is in 2020, as it is now:

• One of the strongest University

composite materials groups in

Europe and worldwide

• In the centre of EU and world-

wide research collaboration

• Sustainable fund-attracting policy (below)

• Support of SIM, CFK Valley Belgium and other

national funding and integration instruments

• Formal collaborations with Japan (Toray),

Russia (SkolTech) and USA (MIT)

• Commercialized software (WiseTex, VoxTex)

PR

• Visibility on national (attracting

undergraduate students and

funds), EU (Erasmus & PhD,

funds) and world (PhDs,

visiting researchers)

• Open Deur and similar

• Strong conference participation and organisation

• Intensive visiting (in- and out-coming)

researchers program

• Web site actualised constantly