Researching materials science and engineering technology with a sustainability focus
Our mission is to advance fundamental and applied research in Materials Science and Engineering Technology. We focus on using nature’s finite resources responsibly as we develop materials, and make contributions towards achieving UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Building on our research in materials and manufacturing, and on collaborations with many industry and academic partners, we established the centre in 2024. Materials we work on include ceramics, woods, metals and alloys, composites (conventional/synthetic, sustainable/natural/bio-composites, lightweight & hybrid composites), polymers processing (thermosets and thermoplastics), sustainable plastics.
Through investment in our materials and manufacturing laboratory infrastructure, we're able to follow our interests in leading research areas including analysis, characterisation, formulation, manufacturing, design, modelling, rapid prototyping, 3-D printing, testing, repair, structural integrity evaluation, applications and knowledge transfer of advanced materials and manufacturing.
From Hom Dhakal, Director of the Centre
Thank you for your interest in the ongoing work of the Portsmouth Centre for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (PCAMM). We're a multidisciplinary centre where a consortium of academics, researchers and industrialists work together to create new optimised future materials for used in many sectors, including aerospace, automotive, energy, construction, packaging and electrical electronic applications.
Billions of barrels of oil. Commuters in smog masks. Heavy metals leaching into the soil. It’s all too easy to picture these things when we think about what transport does to the environment for example. To protect the planet, we must find ways of making materials and processes more sustainable.
PCAMM focuses on applied research into various areas (such as tension, compression, bending, impact, torsion, buckling, fatigue, fracture, thermal, vibration damping, among others) of materials and components aiming at commercialising research and innovation results. With 77% of our research rated world-leading or internationally excellent for impact, our research will directly impact our courses from undergraduate, Masters and PhDs.
Events
19 July: International Symposium on Sustainable Materials for Key Industrial Applications: Opportunities and Challenges
Join leading experts and share their insights on sustainable materials and the future of circular bio-economy. Key discussions will include the integration of sustainable materials into the bioeconomy, research into innovative polymers, and transitioning sustainable biocarbon research into commercial applications.
Our focus
Our key thematic areas are:
Materials Development, Testing and Evaluation
In this area, we use our advanced facilities to investigate and analyse materials for use in industries from packaging and construction to automotive and space engineering. Looking at polymers, composites and metals, we have expertise in applying tests including thermal analysis, fracture toughness, 3-point bending and fatigue.
Sustainable Design and Manufacturing
In this area, we explore the design and manufacture of the next generation of materials, and the development of products that use them. We're working with conventional manufacturing techniques, additive manufacturing, and the use of AI to make optimal use of biocomposites, ceramics, woods, metals and super alloys.
Advanced Analysis and Microstructural Characterisation
We use a wide range of characterisation techniques in this area to understand the properties of materials before and after machining. Our research covers microstructures, failure behaviour, and the use of methods such as optical microscopy, nanoindentation and SEM to understand the effects of defects in materials.
Materials Performance Modelling
In this area, we use CAD/CAM, multiscale modelling and numerical methods to investigate materials including polymers, composites, alloys and biomaterials. Through structural health monitoring (SHM) we explore the behaviours and properties of materials, allowing us to predict cutting forces and damage behaviour.
Machining of metals, composites and hybrid materials
In this area, we use conventional and nonconventional machining including, drilling, milling, laser drilling, wire EDM and abrasive water jet machining. We apply these methods to metals, polymer-based and bio-based composites and hybrid materials under various conditions, including cryogenic situations.
In these areas, we work holistically with industry and with research partners, integrating our expertise with our collaborators. We also work with internationally recognised scholars, our own postgraduate students, and deliver teaching expertise in leading research areas to students in the University's Faculty of Technology.
Our facilities and capabilities
Our centre has well-equipped laboratories with a wide range of the-state-of-the-art facilities for R&D in advanced materials and manufacturing.
We undertake medium-to-long-term research and knowledge transfer projects, as well as short-term consultancy works. We have strong expertise in the areas of:
- Nano-testing (indentation, scratching and impact)
- Thermal characterisation (MDSC, DSC, TGA, TMA, DMA, Laser flash and hot-wire thermal conductivities)
- Materials/Mechanical testing (tensile, compression and flexural test at low and elevated temperatures, pendulum, falling weight and impact and nano-indentation)
- Durability testing (thermal, chemical, moisture, UV and hydrothermal degradation test)
- Surface properties test (AFM, contact angle, surface tension and surface topography)
- Structural integrity evaluation (SEM, C-scan, ARAMIS and CT-scan)
- Manufacturing (vacuum bagging, compression moulding, injection moulding, thermoforming, rotational moulding, RTM and RK control coater with adjustable coating thickness)
- Finite element analysis of engineering and biomedical systems, materials failure, damage and manufacturing processes
- Machining of materials, such as conventional and non-conventional drillings, 5-axis CNC milling, water jet and laser cutting, contact and non-contact CMM among others
- Modelling (analytical and numerical) and simulation of artificial hip and knee joints, materials failure, damage and manufacturing processes
- Digital Image/Volume Correlation for engineering applications
- Fatigue/fracture, creep and oxidation at elevated temperature
- Multi-axial and mixed mode fatigue and fracture
- Product development and rapid prototyping
- Precision measurement and quality systems
- CAD/CAM and electronics fabrication
- Computer modelling and logistics
- Automation and mechatronics
- Reverse engineering
Collaborate with us
If you have a research question or a design project that could benefit from our capabilities, please get in touch with Professor Hom Dhakal to discuss ways we could work together.
Our publication highlights
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Investigation into the fatigue properties of flax fibre epoxy composites and hybrid composites based on flax and glass fibres
Barouni, A., Lupton, C., Jiang, C., Saifullah, A., Giasin, K., Zhang, Z., Dhakal, H.N. (2022). Investigation into the fatigue properties of flax fibre epoxy composites and hybrid composites based on flax and glass fibres. Composite Structures 281:115046.
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Expanded and Nano-structured carbonaceous graphite for high performance anisotropic fuel cell polymer composites
Saadat, N., Dhakal, H.N., Jaffer, S., Tjong, J., Yang, W., Tan, J., Sain, M. (2021). Expanded and Nano-structured carbonaceous graphite for high performance anisotropic fuel cell polymer composites. Composites Science and Technology, 207:108654
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Enhanced vibration damping and viscoelastic properties of flax/epoxy composites and their carbon fibre hybrid laminates
Dashatan, S. H., Sit, M., Zhang, Z., Grossmann, E., Millot, J., Huang, Y. & Dhakal, H. N., (2023). Enhanced vibration damping and viscoelastic properties of flax/epoxy composites and their carbon fibre hybrid laminates. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. 175:107819.
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Exploring the morphology of flax fibres by X-ray microtomography and the related mechanical response by numerical modelling
Richely, E., Bourmaud, A., Dhakal, H., Zhang, Z. Y., Beaugrand, J. & Guessasma, S., 1 (2022): Exploring the morphology of flax fibres by X-ray microtomography and the related mechanical response by numerical modelling. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 160:107052
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Intra-tow micro-wrapping for damage tolerance
Selver E. and Potluri P. (2021). Intra-tow micro-wrapping for damage tolerance. Composites Science and Technology, 213: 108935.
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Self-healing potential of stitched glass/polypropylene/epoxy hybrid composites with various fibers
Kaya G. and Selver E. (2024). Self-healing potential of stitched glass/polypropylene/epoxy hybrid composites with various fibers. Journal of Composite Materials, 2024:58.
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CFD Modelling of Ionic Propulsion, The Electric Jet Engine
Knight, J. et al. (2024). CFD Modelling of Ionic Propulsion, The Electric Jet Engine. In: Khan, A.A., Hossain, M.S., Fotouhi, M., Steuwer, A., Khan, A., Kurtulus, D.F. (eds) Proceedings of the First International Conference on Aeronautical Sciences, Engineering and Technology . ICASET 2023. Springer, Singapore.
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Separation Capture from Curved Surfaces Using Various Turbulence Models
Knight J., Whittington P., Buick J., Saeed B. and Ali R. Separation Capture from Curved Surfaces Using Various Turbulence Models. Evolutions Mech Eng. 4(5). EME.000600. 2023. DOI: 10.31031/EME.2023.04.000600
Our members
Media ready expert
Professor Hom Dhakal
Dr Antigoni Barouni
Luka Celent
Dr Mariana Dotcheva
Dr Krassimir Dotchev
Dr Khaled Giasin
Dr Prashant Jha
Dr Jason Knight
Mr Michel Leseure
Mr Ali Mahmood
Dr Dora Mavridou
Dr Petko Petkov
Dr Khurram Rehmani
Dr Abu Saifullah
Dr Erdem Selver
Dr Jurgita Zekonyte
Media ready expert
Dr Zhong Yi Zhang
Current PhD students
- Mr Muneer Ahmed Musthaq Ahamed (MAMA): Improvement of impact strength and damage behaviour of Natural fibre reinforced composites and their hybrids through novel enhancement techniques
- Ifeoluwa Emmanuel Elemure (IEE): Employing green approach in lean manufacturing leading to sustainability
- Sakib Khan (SK): Development, testing and characterisation of sustainable biodegradable materials for food packaging applications with enhanced performance
- Matilda Johansson (MJ): Lignocellulosic biocomposites for structural high impact applications
- Kumar Shantanu Prasad (KSP): Structural health monitoring of wind turbine blade
- Usha Kiran Kumar Sanivada (UKKS): Development of hierarchical high-performance sustainable composites
- Ilias Gkoumas (IG) : Social Life Cycle Analysis in Post Disaster Housing
- Hang Shi (HS): Abrasive water jet cutting of synthetic and natural based fibre metal laminates
Contact details
For more information, contact Professor Hom Dhakal, Director of PCAMM.