Double diaphragm forming for sustainable composites manufacturing
This Engineering Doctorate studentship sits within the , a doctoral training programme focused on developing the next generation of specialists in sustainable composites. The CDT in Innovation for Sustainable Composites Engineering is part of the in collaboration with the 糖心原创’s Composites research group.
Project description
Supervisor: Professor Lee Harper
The studentship is sponsored by .
Prospective start date: October 2026 for four years.
Double diaphragm forming (DDF) is a promising means of producing sustainable fibre-reinforced composites offering key advantages over traditional autoclave processing of prepreg sheet materials. The benefits, including reduced manual labour and shorter process times, align with the broader goals of environmentally responsible manufacturing, material efficiency, and high-performance composite production. Despite these benefits DDF for larger volume manufacturing achieving defect-free components remains a challenge as numerous interdependent material and process parameters are involved that are difficult to optimise manually. Maintaining precise fibre orientation to prevent localised wrinkling requires careful control otherwise DDF components are prone to defects, which may exhibit inferior mechanical properties compared to those produced using traditional processes. Further challenges exist in understanding the temperature sensitivity and differing cure cycles of the component sheet materials as well as dealing with their directional properties because of the anisotropic nature of the prepreg sheets. Achieving the desired geometry in a defect free DDF finished component requires careful selection of materials and processing parameters.
You will:
- Develop a reliable simulation model to identify suitable material combinations to substantially reduce, or even eliminate, the need for physical feasibility trials
- Define a suite of deployable tools and predictive models to identify optimal polymer film and prepreg chemistry combinations over a range of cure cycles
- Be provided with hands-on experience at one of the world’s leading specialty chemicals companies, working with real-world industrial-scale composite manufacture alongside state-of-the-art composite materials
- Deepen your passion for automated manufacturing processes, driving the development of sustainable composite structures for high-performance applications, preparing you for a career at the intersection of innovation and industry
- Support Syensqo’s ambition of promoting DDF in the composites industry by developing the knowledge, skills and end-user tools
Eligibility and funding
This opportunity is open to home/permanent UK residents (subject to security clearance) only.
- £26,780 tax-free enhanced stipend per year
- Full tuition fees at the home student rate
- £9,200 per year for activities that support research
How to apply
Closing date: 30 July 2026.
Please submit a personal statement outlining your experience and your interests in the EngD project, plus your CV and transcript of results to apply online. Do not submit a project description; this is unnecessary as the project is already defined.
Enter Professor Lee Harper as the main supervisor (lee.harper@nottingham.ac.uk) and indicate that the funding is being provided by the CDT in Innovation for Sustainable Composites Engineering.
Contact
For general and application enquiries please email Beatrix Gateb (Senior CDT Administrator) at beatrix.gateb1@nottingham.ac.uk
For academic enquiries please email Professor Lee Harper at Lee.Harper@nottingham.ac.uk