PhD in Advanced Composites – Centre for Doctoral Training in Innovation for Sustainable Composites Engineering

The project:

Demonstration of maximum circularity of carbon fibres composites through experiment and predictive modelling sponsored by Jaguar Land Rover

Supervisor: Professor Ian Hamerton

Sustainable mobility is key for a net-zero future and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) play a key role in this transition. As BEV’s are traditionally heavier than Internal Combustion Engines (ICE), this can be an engineering challenge. Carbon fibre composite can deliver weight saving solutions compared to metals but usually have a higher carbon footprint (CO₂e) due to the energy intensive process used to produce the material. To balance vehicle weight, cost and CO₂e targets, it is vital to use materials efficiently, which is also critical to achieve a true circular and net zero business and minimise environmental impact. Jaguar Land Rover wish to establish to understand how many times the same carbon fibre reinforcement can be used and change the perception that composites have a single life with minimal opportunities for recycling. The PhD project will:

• Establish how long the material can be kept in life, whist achieving maximum performance and also reduce/negate the need for virgin raw materials, through materials and process selection
• Evaluate commercially available composite ‘recycling’ technologies that transform continuous fibres into short discontinuous fibres or milled fibres, or short discontinuous fibres into milled fibres (i.e. downcycling)
• Investigate industrial scale upcycling of short fibre recyclate to near-virgin performance to reduce downcycling
• Conduct materials testing and create predictive models to identify the maximum achievable number of recovery and remanufacture cycles including composite performance after each cycle, or reaching an “ultimate circular yield”.
• Demonstrate that both weight and Global Warming Potential (GWP) of vehicle components (structural, semi-structural, non-structural, aesthetic) can be reduced using recycled carbon fibre.
• Excite your interest in EVA technology by defining suitable vehicle applications and demonstrators for recycled carbon fibre materials.

How to apply:

To apply please submit a personal statement, outlining your experience and why you are interested in the PhD project, your CV and transcript of results to https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/.

Please do not submit a project description; this is unnecessary as the project is already defined.

Please select PhD in Advance Composites and enter Professor Janice Barton the Director of the CDT as the 2^nd supervisor (janice.barton@bristol.ac.uk)

Candidate requirements:  Applicants must hold/achieve a minimum a 2:1 MEng or merit at Masters level or equivalent in engineering, physics or chemistry. Applicants without a master's qualification may be considered on an exceptional basis, provided they hold a first-class undergraduate degree. Please note, acceptance will also depend on evidence of readiness to pursue a research degree and performance at interview.

Funding: An enhanced stipend of £25,789 (based on UKRI 2024/25 rate), a fee waiver and generous research financial support for the successful candidates.

Contact: isce-cdt@bristol.ac.uk

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