Inkjet Printing of Plasma Functionalised Graphene to Deliver Multifunctional Polymer Composites for Aerospace Applications (PlasmaGraph)
Lead Participant:
NETCOMPOSITES LIMITED
Abstract
The objective of the PlasmaGraph project is to develop a method by which plasma functionalised graphene can be selectively deposited onto fibre reinforced composites to deliver multi-functionality to aerospace structures.
There are three main elements to deliver to meet this overall objective:
- Plasma functionalised graphene; to prevent the re-agglomeration of the graphene in a dispersion and the re-agglomeration of the graphene can both reduce the inherent properties of the graphene and, for inkjet printing, prevents use of graphene dispersions as the re-agglomerated material can block print heads;
- Inkjet printing of graphene dispersions onto fabric preforms; this allows the selective placement of graphene into structural composites and will deliver multifunctional benefits;
- Manufacturing of graphene functionalised composite components; this requires the inkjet printed graphene
to remain in-situ when the final composite part is manufactured so that the benefits are retained, but also so that there is no release of the graphene to the environment during processing.
There are three main elements to deliver to meet this overall objective:
- Plasma functionalised graphene; to prevent the re-agglomeration of the graphene in a dispersion and the re-agglomeration of the graphene can both reduce the inherent properties of the graphene and, for inkjet printing, prevents use of graphene dispersions as the re-agglomerated material can block print heads;
- Inkjet printing of graphene dispersions onto fabric preforms; this allows the selective placement of graphene into structural composites and will deliver multifunctional benefits;
- Manufacturing of graphene functionalised composite components; this requires the inkjet printed graphene
to remain in-situ when the final composite part is manufactured so that the benefits are retained, but also so that there is no release of the graphene to the environment during processing.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
---|---|---|
NETCOMPOSITES LIMITED | £99,489 | £ 69,642 |
  | ||
Participant |
||
EMYRUS LIMITED | £61,481 | £ 43,037 |
STRUCTURAL AND CIVIL DESIGN LIMITED | ||
MARSHALL OF CAMBRIDGE AEROSPACE LIMITED | ||
INNOVATE UK | ||
UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD | £70,999 |
People |
ORCID iD |
Beverly Frain (Project Manager) |