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Composites Engineering Laboratory
A facility for manufacturing and evaluating engineering components with composite materials
The Composites Engineering Laboratory offers an advanced facility for teaching and research within composite materials. It supports engineering and technology students, allowing them to gain practical experience in designing, manufacturing, and testing composite materials.
For students, the lab provides experience in the production and testing of composite components, offering a practical understanding of the core processes involved in composite manufacturing. It serves as a key resource, allowing students to bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world application. This active engagement helps students gain valuable insights into the design, manufacturing, and testing of composite materials.
In addition to its educational role, the lab supports research aimed at advancing the use of sustainable materials, particularly natural fiber composites. It plays a critical role in addressing key industry challenges, such as the end-of-life cycle of composites, which is becoming an increasingly important issue. The lab's work in this area contributes to both academic research and commercial applications, offering valuable innovations that can drive sustainability in composite material production and use.
Industry-standard equipment to advance your project
Prepare and process composite materials for testing using advanced techniques, including:
- Autoclaving
- Hot pressing
- Resin transfer moulding
- Precision sample cutting
Our research
The University of Plymouth has nearly six decades of experience in composite materials research, focusing on continuous fibre polymer matrix systems.
Professor John Summerscales
Professor of Composites Engineering
Initially emphasising material properties, our research evolved to improving manufacturing processes for defect-free composites, enhancing mechanical performance. Today, the focus is sustainability, balancing technological, economic, environmental, social and governance considerations.
Composites are integral to aerospace, marine, automotive, and renewable energy industries. Most of the composites from past years have a thermosetting matrix which makes
disposal at end-of-life
difficult.
In the Interreg
SeaBioComp
project, we explored the idea of making large thermoplastic matrix composite structures by flowing monomer through the porous laminate stack in a process called in situ polymerisation during monomer infusion under flexible tooling. The demonstration component was an enclosure for 5G communications systems on a marine buoy. This was successful using an acrylic matrix system with ambient temperature cure, but the combination of complex geometry of the heated mould tool and an elevated temperature cure required for the poly(lactide) matrix challenged the limits of current technology.
Our facilities for your research and commercial activities
At the Composites Engineering Laboratory:
- Use autoclaves capable of operating at pressures up to 7 bar and temperatures exceeding 200°C
- Manufacture components that meet commercial industry standards
- Work safely and effectively on a wide range of projects, from basic fabrication to complex material testing
Facilities for research, innovation and learning
At Plymouth, students can access cutting-edge laboratories that offer experience in real-world applications. Our facilities enhance learning, help develop practical skills, and foster collaboration on innovative projects, all preparing students to tackle complex challenges in their fields.
Our specialised equipment supports pioneering transdisciplinary research and commercial ventures, driving innovation, developing solutions to pressing global challenges, and making meaningful contributions to both industry and society.
