Research in polymer matrix composites in the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering (MTM) of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven started in 1982. During the first, exploratory years, many different research topics were covered, but gradually, the attention has been focused on three main areas:

• textile based composites and textiles: analysis of the internal geometry and resulting properties, and development of simulation software for processing and property optimization;
• textile or honeycomb sandwich materials;
• innovative processing methods for thermoplastic composites;
• further improvement of the ‘green’ nature of composites: use of natural fibres, life cycle analysis, biodegradability, recycling;
• analysing biomaterials like bone and scaffolds as heterogeneous, porous structures.

Over the past 20 years, the Composite Materials Group at K.U.Leuven has grown steadily. At this moment, some 20 researchers (PhD and post-doc), together with some 10 undergraduate and master's students, work enthusiastically in fundamental and applied research projects, funded by the Flemish, Belgian and European governments and by the industry. Skilled technicians develop and optimise sophisticated processing and testing equipment. The group is trully international, as at this moment researchers from more than 10 different nationalities are present. The international orientation of the Composite Materials Group is further evidenced by the numerous and intensive collaborations with universities in Europe, America, Asia and Africa, and by the active involvement in international composites societies (ESCM, SAMPE…) and conferences (ICCM, ECCM, TexComp, IPCM…).

The Composite Materials Group is furthermore involved in innovative educational projects, like the European Master's Programme in Materials Engineering, Option Polymer and Composites Engineering (EUPOCO).

In 1999, the Leuven Composites Processing Centre (LCPC) has been founded. In LCPC, four different K.U.Leuven departments join their research, knowhow and equipment on composites science and processing: Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Chemistry. In this way, almost all polymer composite processing techniques can be studied, both experimentally and theoretically. Joint projects have been started. The European composites industry finds, through the "gate" of LCPC, an single and unique entry to the polymer composites R&D at K.U.Leuven.

In 2006, the Leuven Materials Research Centre (LMRC) has been started.

We believe that all these joint efforts will enable us to further explore the fascinating world of new and old materials, the world of fibres, matrices, interfaces, textiles, sandwich structures, etc…

Contact:

Prof. Ignaas Verpoest (Head of the group)
Ignaas.Verpoestmtm.kuleuven.be