Current Research Area List

The growing use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in aerospace, automotive, construction, and renewable energy is driven by their exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and design flexibility. However, the rise in FRP usage has also created significant end-of-life composite waste, particularly from wind turbine blades, aircraft, and automotive components. Since conventional thermoset composites are difficult to reprocess, valuable fibers are often lost and environmental impacts increase. Therefore, efficient recycling and fiber-recovery technologies are essential to reclaim high-quality fibers, reduce waste, and enable a more sustainable and circular lifecycle for FRP composites.

Development of Advanced Fiber Metal Laminates (FMLs) for structural applicationsThe use of composite materials has replaced traditional material because of their superior properties like low density, high strength to weight ratio, good fatigue and corrosion resistance. But on the contrary, these properties are degraded when exposed to harsh environmental conditions. Now a days various firms are attracted towards high performance materials, which meet the requirements in all aspects like economical, safety and environmental especially in automotive and structural application in view of reducing the fuel efficiency, carbon emissions, improving the high load bearing capacity and to overcome the harsh environmental conditions. This is possible with different combination of materials such as Fiber Metal Laminates (FMLs). FMLs are combination of metals and fiber reinforced polymer composite materials which are adhesively bonded together alternatively. The intention of combining these two different materials is the compensation of their inherent weaknesses.

Development of Advanced Fiber Metal Laminates (FMLs) for structural applicationsThe use of composite materials has replaced traditional material because of their superior properties like low density, high strength to weight ratio, good fatigue and corrosion resistance. But on the contrary, these properties are degraded when exposed to harsh environmental conditions. Now a days various firms are attracted towards high performance materials, which meet the requirements in all aspects like economical, safety and environmental especially in automotive and structural application in view of reducing the fuel efficiency, carbon emissions, improving the high load bearing capacity and to overcome the harsh environmental conditions. This is possible with different combination of materials such as Fiber Metal Laminates (FMLs). FMLs are combination of metals and fiber reinforced polymer composite materials which are adhesively bonded together alternatively. The intention of combining these two different materials is the compensation of their inherent weaknesses.

Future research will focus on the direct growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene on carbon fibers using CVD, building on expertise in composite interface engineering and EPD-based nanofiller modification. CVD-grown nano-architectures can enhance fiber–matrix bonding, stress transfer, fracture toughness, and damage tolerance while enabling conductive and self-sensing composites. This approach has strong potential for high-performance composites in aerospace, defense, automotive, and extreme-environment applications.

Liquid Thermoplastic Resins (LTRs) offer a promising approach to advanced FRP composite manufacturing by combining the low-viscosity, room-temperature processing of thermosets with the toughness, recyclability, and reprocessability of thermoplastics. Their ability to impregnate continuous fiber architectures through processes such as RTM and VARI, followed by in-situ polymerization, enables the development of high-performance and sustainable composites for aerospace, automotive, and renewable energy applications.

The thermoplastic nature of LTR-based FRP composites enables rapid, adhesive-free joining through welding techniques such as ultrasonic welding and fusion bonding. These approaches can significantly reduce assembly time, eliminate mechanical fasteners, and minimize stress concentrations, offering a promising route toward high-speed, lightweight, and sustainable composite structures.

Research focuses on electrophoretic deposition (EPD) and nanofiller grafting for advanced CFRP composites using graphene-based nanomaterials. EPD parameters such as filler concentration, deposition time, polarity, and post-treatment are optimized to enhance the fiber–matrix interface, load transfer, flexural strength, interlaminar shear strength, and delamination resistance under extreme temperatures. The nano-engineered fibers support the development of high-performance composites for applications including Type 4 and Type 5 hydrogen storage tanks, with ongoing industrial collaborations, including TATA Steel, and patent development.

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