Our background
Diamond-aerospace group is a research team located at Cadiz University. It is formed by two full professors, four senior lecturer, three associate professors, three post-doctoral researchers and five PhD students at this moment. Our research field focuses on different niches related to semiconductor (homoepitaxial diamond structures for power electronics devices, MOSFETs, Schottky diodes) and aerospace industry such us: i) aerospace materials in collaboration with Airbus and FIDAMC (Foundation for Research, Development and Application of materials composites) ii) homoepitaxial diamond for power devices in collaboration with several universities and researcher centers as Institut Néel, Hasselt University, University College of London among others (see collaboration link), iii) optical, electronical and thermal characterization of wide band gap semiconductor materials iv) modeling and testing of mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) materials in collaboration with Airbus Military (ex-EADS-CASA) and Airbus Systems and aerospace, v) simulations of CFRP and nanoparticles/CFRP composiste’s behaviour in collaboration with INSA-Lyon and vi) laser machining of CFRP composite materials for aerospace applications.
Our research group has got a broad background of collaborations with aerospace industry through four research projects (Ministry grants) and four private contract directly with aerospace related companies (Airbus, TAM, …) since 2001 to today (see link about research projects of Daniel’s CV). These collaborations have made possible to obtain a large experience in topics related to CFRP composite materials as well as machining of aerospace structures by non-conventional cutting methods. Some of these projects and contracts allowed to adquire background in the characterization of mechanical-optical and electrical behaviours of single carbon fiber (CF) and CFRP. The results revealed that CFRP materials offer an exceptional response to fracture and impacts when diamond nanoparticles are introduced inside epoxy matrix. However, improves in the “functional” properties as thermal and electrical conductivities results to be not straightforward. Thus a new approximation was considered, “to employ boron doped nano-crystals diamond (B-NCD) as coating of CF” (see link about projects in Daniel’s CV). The B-NCD coating can also improve the mechanical behavior but in addition can be beneficial regarding the thermal and electrical properties of CFRP materials in serve. Nevertheless for that, it is required a extensive experience in growth related techniques, as well as structural, mechanical, electrical, optical and electronical characterization ones. Our team is formed by researchers whose background are focused on each these fields and we have the facilities requeried for it (see link about our team and facilities); thus we have the possibility of obtaining a global vision of these materials from their growth to their behaviour in serve . Moreover, our experience into non-conventional cutting methods as well as aerospace mechanical tools allows to achieve revelant information related to B-NCD/CFRP materials implementation, which could be used by aerospace industry.
In view of above described, our team responds to key questions that permit a real implementation of B-NCD/CFRP materials into aerospace industry, thanks also to a feedback between us and aerospace industry.