New Delhi, July 31: India has made a significant advancement in making aircraft lighter yet stronger. Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have developed a specialized 3D reinforced advanced composite technology.
This technology enhances the strength, durability, and damage tolerance of composite materials used in various sectors, including aviation, spacecraft, defense equipment, automobiles, and wind energy. The institute has also secured a patent for this innovation.
Modern aircraft and spacecraft are increasingly constructed from fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites instead of metals. These materials are incredibly lightweight while challenging metals in terms of strength. Consequently, they are utilized in commercial airplanes, fighter jets, rocket launch vehicles, defense systems, high-speed rail, wind turbines, and hydrogen storage tanks. However, these composites often face issues such as cracking, delamination, and reduced strength under prolonged stress and load.
The researchers at NIT Rourkela have addressed these challenges with their new technology. They have created a novel 3D reinforced hybrid composite by combining glass fibers and graphene nanoplatelets. During the manufacturing process, these materials are organized in the thickness direction of the composite, enhancing the overall internal structure’s strength. This results in better bonding between the fibers, graphene, and epoxy matrix, making the final material more durable than previous versions. Notably, graphene nanoplatelets are used without any chemical modification.
The researchers made only minor adjustments to the traditional manufacturing process, utilizing an 800-volt, 50 Hertz AC electric field during curing. This allows the technology to be easily integrated into existing industrial production systems. According to Dr. Rajesh Kumar Prasti, an assistant professor at NIT Rourkela, this technology is beneficial for all sectors requiring lightweight yet highly strong and damage-tolerant materials. Key applications include aircraft panels, automobile crash structures, wind turbine blades, pressure vessels, marine structures, and other advanced engineering products.
Experts believe that reducing the weight of an aircraft while enhancing its strength can lead to lower fuel consumption, reduced maintenance costs, and improved operational efficiency. This is why aerospace companies worldwide are continuously working on new composite technologies.
According to the institute, laboratory tests have shown that the developed composite performs remarkably well. These results indicate that the new composite is not only stronger than its predecessors but also better at withstanding damage.
Professor Bankim Chandra Ray from NIT stated that this technology will help increase energy efficiency, lower maintenance costs, and promote sustainable manufacturing through lightweight and strong materials. He emphasized that this innovation in advanced materials will also bolster India’s self-reliant campaign.
The research team will now test this new material on full-scale structures and study its long-term durability under various environmental conditions. Additionally, they have begun working on technology licensing and industrial partnerships to transition this technology from the lab to industry.
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