NIT Rourkela Secures Patent for 3-D reinforced Advanced Composite Technology for Aerospace, Automotive, and Renewable Energy Applications
Rourkela, July 31 (TNT): The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela has secured a patent for an advanced composite manufacturing technology that significantly enhances the strength and durability of Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites, offering promising applications in aerospace, automotive, renewable energy and other high-performance engineering sectors.
The patented technology (Patent No. 596943) has been developed by researchers from the FRP Composite Laboratory of the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at NIT Rourkela in collaboration with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT), Jaipur.
The research team comprises Dr. Rajesh Kumar Prusty, Assistant Professor, Prof. Bankim Chandra Ray, Professor, research scholar Parimal Jana of NIT Rourkela, and Dr. Dinesh Kumar Rathore of MNIT Jaipur, the Institute said in a release here on Friday.
FRP composites are widely used in aircraft, defence systems, space launch vehicles, high-speed rail, renewable energy installations and hydrogen storage tanks because of their high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance and design flexibility.
However, their susceptibility to cracking and layer separation under heavy loading has limited their long-term performance.
To overcome this challenge, the researchers developed a three-dimensional reinforced hybrid composite by integrating glass fibres with graphene nanoplatelets aligned through the thickness of the composite during the curing process.
The technology strengthens the internal structure and enhances the interaction between the fibres, graphene and epoxy matrix, resulting in improved damage resistance and durability.
The researchers said the innovation requires only a minor modification to conventional manufacturing methods by applying a standard 50 Hz alternating current electric field at 800 volts during curing, making it compatible with existing composite manufacturing processes.
Speaking on the innovation, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Prusty said the technology has wide-ranging applications in aircraft panels, automotive crash structures, wind turbine blades, pressure vessels, marine structures and other advanced engineering components where lightweight and damage-tolerant materials are essential.
Laboratory evaluations conducted in accordance with ASTM standards showed a 37 per cent increase in tensile strength, 30 per cent improvement in flexural strength, 63 per cent increase in flexural modulus, 26 per cent improvement in tensile modulus, 24 per cent enhancement in interlaminar shear strength, 33 per cent increase in Mode-I fracture toughness, 53 per cent increase in Mode-II fracture toughness, and 55 per cent higher storage modulus at 40 degrees Celsius.
Prof. Bankim Chandra Ray said the technology has the potential to reduce maintenance costs, improve energy efficiency and promote sustainable manufacturing while contributing to the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission in advanced materials.
The research team plans to evaluate the material in larger structural components, study its long-term environmental durability and pursue technology licensing and industry partnerships for commercial deployment.
TNT KM
