Research Direction
Teaching what is actually known, from direct research experience
Every topic taught in the composite materials curriculum maps to a real experiment conducted, a real fiber characterized, or a real product tested. This is what that coverage looks like.
Material Coverage
Fibers & fillers directly handled
Every fiber below has been processed, treated, characterized, and incorporated into composite systems — not discussed theoretically, but worked with physically in the lab.
Natural fibers
- Coconut Sheath
- Coir fibre
- Banana fiber
- Sisal fibre
- Curauá fibre
- Palmyra fibre
- Sheep wool
- Luffa fibre
- Water hyacinth
- Sansevieria
Synthetic & nano fillers
- Carbon fibre
- Basalt fibre
- E-glass fibre
- MMT nano-clay
- Carbon Nanotube (CNT)
- Graphene Oxide (GO)
- Al₂O₃
- Red mud
- Copper slag
- Eggshell / Rice paddy straw
Composite Types
Eight classes of composites studied
Research Trails
Characterization methods applied
Every characterization technique listed below has been applied to real composite samples and published in peer-reviewed journals — these are not theoretical survey topics.
Static mechanical properties — tensile, flexural, impact
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) — storage modulus, loss factor
Free vibration, modal analysis, damping behavior
Sliding wear, abrasion, friction — pin-on-disc and three-body
TGA — thermal degradation and stability
Gamma radiation shielding (cobalt-60 source, IGCAR)
Acoustic absorption and sound transmission loss
Electromagnetic interference shielding of nanocomposites
Conventional drilling behavior and delamination factor
Abrasive waterjet machining response and optimization
Cone calorimetry, flammability (UL-94), fire response
FEA modeling, polymer corrosion (EIS), low-velocity impact
Vacuum bagging, 3D printing / additive manufacturing
SEM, optical microscopy, profilometry
Future Research Direction
Where the research is heading — and how visitors can connect
These are the open research fronts — areas where new collaborations, PhD students, or joint projects would be welcome.
Automated fiber placement
Automated Tape Laying (ATL) and Automated Fibre Placement (AFP) for long natural fiber composites — replacing carbon fibre in select structural applications.
NF/PLA filaments for additive manufacturing
Preparing natural fiber / PLA composite filaments for 3D printing — extending biocomposite use into additive manufacturing workflows.
Conducting polymer coatings
Surface-treating natural fibers with conducting polymers (polyaniline) to create filaments for 3D printing of electronic components.
Nano cellulose integration
Integrating nano cellulose into fibre coatings to improve thermal stability, fire resistance, and yield strength — towards high-performance biocomposites.
Interested in any of these directions? Get in touch.