PhD Studentship: Surface and Suspension Dynamics in the Alignment of Recycled Fibres

The composites industry is under increasing pressure to transition towards a truly circular economy. As growing demand continues to widen the supply gap, we must recover untapped value that would otherwise be lost to landfilling and incineration, which are resource-intensive and environmentally damaging end-of-life pathways. Where recycled fibres are used, they are often downcycled as fillers and low-value reinforcements in their short and randomly aligned form. A key challenge to the effective reintegration of recycled carbon and glass fibres into high-performance products lies in achieving scalable and energy-efficient fibre alignment from irregular, reclaimed feedstocks. Fibre surface attributes and suspension behaviour in alignment systems play vital roles in determining the alignment efficiency, process stability, and the downstream consolidation and performance of remanufactured composites. 

This fully-funded PhD project fits within a wider research programme with industrial partners and an interdisciplinary team working on the development of cross-platform alignment technologies that integrate material science, process engineering and sustainability analysis to deliver scalable solutions for circular composites manufacturing. The successful candidate will contribute to this broader vision by investigating the surface characteristics and suspension dynamics of recycled short fibres used in alignment processes. 

Collaborative links with Gen 2 Carbon, Sigmatex and Teijin Europe in the parent project provide exciting opportunities for knowledge-exchange activities and technical site visits throughout the project. 

Project Objectives

1. Characterise the surface properties of reclaimed carbon and glass fibres from different sources and with varying processing histories.
2. Investigate suspension behaviour, including fibre dispersion, settling and agglomeration tendencies under varying conditions.
3. Study the influence of suspension properties on alignment efficiency, consolidation behaviour, and interfacial compatibility with traditional composite matrices. 
4. Explore complementary computational fluid dynamics-discrete element method (CFD-DEM) simulations as a tool to predict fibre-fluid interactions and inform experimental design.

Early application is advised as the position will be filled once a suitable candidate is identified.

Note that only applications received via the University’s online system will be considered. All applications should include the following documents: 

• 2–3-page research proposal
• 1-page motivation letter/personal statement
• Curriculum vitae
• Degree transcripts/certificates

The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students and promotes a culture of inclusivity. Details: www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity

Supervisor home page https://eng.ed.ac.uk/about/people/dr-wini-obande