Quickstep forward for Deakin researchers
Deakin University’s talented young research leader Dr Bronwyn Fox is part of a team of international experts on composites awarded a million dollar grant.
The researchers aim to develop new composite resins that are optimised for manufacture using the Quickstep Process.
This will be achieved by gaining a better understanding the changes that occur during rapid processing of polymer composites.
The research team will include:
• Dr Richard Day, founder and Director of the Northwest Composites Centre (NWCC) in Manchester;
• Dr Arthur Wilkinson from the NWCC;
• Dr Fox, a senior lecturer at the Centre for Material & Fibre Innovation at Deakin University and a member of Quickstep’s Technology Advisory Board;
• Dr Kim Alderson, an expert in the field of auxetic materials from the University of Bolton.
Dr Day will lead the team, which has elected to focus on the Quickstep fluid-controlled heat transfer (FHT) processing technology - an area which is currently attracting industrial interest as an alternative to autoclave processing.
Dr Fox has spent much of the past two years travelling between Deakin University Geelong Campus at Waurn Ponds and Manchester, developing opportunities to use the university’s expertise in Quickstep overseas.
“This a wonderful international project which fulfils University key goal to raise the international profile of Deakin through strategic international partnerships and alliances,” Dr Fox said.
“It means that our research at Deakin is having an international impact and that the composite team at Deakin is becoming known overseas for the quality of its work.”
Dr Fox is currently supervising nine PhD students working in the area of composites.
Quickstep Technologies Managing Director, Mr Nick Noble, said the development of specialised composite resins would represent a quantum leap forward for the company.
“At the moment, the resins used for FHT processing are designed for more traditional curing cycles such as autoclave,” Mr Noble said.
“Therefore, little is known about the kinetics of the FHT curing process and how resins may be developed to further optimise FHT curing cycles.
“This research programme will provide a better understanding of how the Quickstep Process affects resin chemistry, and will therefore facilitate the development of specialised resins that enhance the mechanical performance of Quickstep-manufactured composite components.”
Work on the project will begin in March next year.