Advanced Composites for Safer, Greener, and More Efficient Aviation

Abstract

This seminar highlights recent breakthroughs in advanced composite materials designed to address the pressing demands of safety, energy efficiency, and sustainability in modern aviation. Adopting an integrated approach to material innovation, we tackle critical challenges in structural integrity, multifunctional energy storage, and thermal management under stringent operational and environmental constraints. Central to this work are four research projects that exemplify the synergy between innovative material architectures and multifunctional composites. First, we present the development of ultra-high strength composites incorporating vertically aligned aerogel networks, which markedly enhance both interlaminar strength and through-thickness electrical conductivity, which are crucial for improving aircraft safety and lightning strike protection. Second, we introduce CFRP-based structural energy storage composites that leverage the unique properties of graphene oxide films, enabling lightweight, load-bearing components capable of in-situ energy harvesting and storage. Third, we address thermal management challenges through the design of anisotropic h-BN aerogels, while the fourth project focuses on high-emissivity films for superior passive cooling and insulation, both are essential for aircraft cabins and electronic systems. These advances are enabled by innovative manufacturing methods such as 3D additive freeze-printing, ensuring scalability and uniform performance. Finally, we discuss future directions in green manufacturing, including out-of-autoclave curing and recyclable composite systems, to minimise environmental impact across the product lifecycle. Experimental validation and comprehensive analyses confirm that these material solutions not only enhance the safety and efficiency of aviation systems but also lay the groundwork for the next generation of sustainable, high-performance aerospace technologies.

Speaker

Dr Kit-Ying Chan is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). She received her BEng (Hons) degree in Mechanical Engineering with first-class honours from PolyU in 2015, and her PhD in Materials Engineering from Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, in 2020. Following her doctoral studies, Dr Chan worked as a Research Associate at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (2020–2021) and as a Postdoctoral Fellow at PolyU (2021–2022). Her research focuses on nanocomposites for thermo-optical management and energy storage, additive manufacturing of high-performance nanocomposites, and advanced manufacturing of multifunctional carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites.