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 ²ÝÝ®ÉçÇø 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.
Our focus
PCAMM focuses on the four key thematic areas:
Sustainable Design and Manufacturing
Theme Coordinator: Dr Petko Petkov
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.
Materials Development, Testing and Evaluation
Theme Coordinator: Dr Abu Saifullah
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 and alloys, we have expertise in conducting different tests including thermal analysis, fracture toughness, 3-point bending and fatigue.
Advanced Analysis and Microstructural Characterisation
Theme Coordinator: Professor Soran Birosca
We use a wide range of characterisation techniques in this area to understand the properties of materials before and after manufacturing and testing. Our research covers microstructures, failure behaviour, and the use of methods such as optical microscopy, nanoindentation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray micro CT to understand the effects of defects in materials.
Materials Performance Modelling
Theme Coordinator: Dr Antigoni Barouni
In this area, we use multiscale modelling and numerical methods to simulate the performance and investigate the structural integrity of various materials including polymers, composites, alloys and biomaterials. Structural health monitoring (SHM) systems are used to detect, localise and identify damage mechanisms in a variety of materials and structures, allowing us to predict the performance of materials and their failure behaviours.
These four themes will enable us to integrate our expertise across the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (SEME) in a holistic manner to attract collaboration with industry and national and international research partners.
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
2025
Guo, B., Chen, Z., Maggio, L., Wu, W., Liu, S., Tamma, V., Fan, J.
22 Jul 2025, In: Physical Review Applied. 112, 12p., 013719
Research output: Article
Weston, B. T., Sweetman, S. C., Kean, J., Wood, C., Martill, D. M., Smith, R. E.
9 Jul 2025, In: Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 13p., 101128
Research output: Article
Chilote, M. O., Dhakal, H.
18 Jun 2025, In: Environments. 12, 6, 20p., 209
Research output: Article
Rai, A., Triggiani, D., Facchi, P., Tamma, V.
5 Jun 2025, In: Physical Review A. 111, 13p., 062408
Research output: Article
Ahmad, F., Shabbir, A., Alanazi, S. A., Shabbir, M., Junaid, K., Andrikopoulou, E.
15 May 2025,
Research output: Conference contribution
Our members
Director
Media ready expert
Professor Hom Dhakal
Other roles and supporting colleagues:
Communication and dissemination of news
Event organisation
Funding call and scanning and dissemination
Fostering industrial links and research culture
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
Associate members
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Contact details
For more information, contact Professor Hom Dhakal, Director of PCAMM.