Current HPMI research consists of the following six major program areas:
Carbon Nanotubes Enhanced High-Performance Multifunctional Composites
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have amazing electrical, mechanical, photonic and thermal properties. HPMI is working to effectively transfer these amazing properties into bulk composite materials using thin membranes made up of CNTs called "buckypaper."
Advanced Materials for Energy and Power
The use of fuel cells and supercapacitors is expected to grow exponentially over the next few years. New energy generation and storage devices must be made more efficient.
Biosensors, Sensing and Actuation
Structural health monitoring (SHM) is vital for constructed systems and infrastructure for applications involving aircraft, wind blades, bridges, etc.
Advanced Manufacturing and Out-of-Autoclave Processing for Composites and Nanocomposites
HPMI is developing and improving affordable manufacturing processes that provide rapid, custom-made composite fabrication capabilities.
Emerging Processing Techniques for Advanced Materials
HPMI is exploring emerging processing techniques for composites and nanomaterials, such as developing and testing supercritical fluids (SCF) assisted process.
Quality and Manufacturing Engineering for Advanced Composites Materials
Manufacturing of advanced materials such as composites and nanomaterials often involves multiple constituent materials and complex processing steps.
Current and Recent Projects:
- Dimension Prediction and Control for RTM Process
- Dispersion and Alignment of Carbon Nanotubes Using Electric Fields
- Environmentally Conscious Process for Boat Building
- Fire, Smoke and Toxicity Retardant Composites
- Functionalization of SWNTs by Mechanically Chopping and Molecular Filling
- GRASP - Gas-Assisted Real-time Assessment of Permeability
- High-Temperature Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding
- Intelligent Control of Liquid Composite Molding Process
- Magnetically Aligning SWNTs for High Performance, Multifunctional Nanomaterials
- Molecular Dynamics Modeling and Simulation of Nanotube Reinforced Composites
- Nanotube/Carbon Fiber Multiscale Reinforcement for High Performance Composites
- NOLES - Nanotubes Optimized for Lightweight Exceptional Strength
- REDUCE - Rapid Early Development Unit Cost Estimation
- RIDFT - Resin Infusion between Double Flexible Tooling Process
- Rotating Compression Molding Process for Acoustically Attenuating Composites
- Strain Sensing, Polymer Matrix Nanocomposites
- Transparent, Impact Resistant Nanocomposites
- 3D RTM/VARTM Manufacturability Simulator - RTMSim