A Nigerian scientist, Abdulhammed Hamzat, from Ogbomosho South Local Government of Oyo State, Nigeria, has made groundbreaking scientific research to revolutionise the aviation and energy sectors through the development of aerospace-grade flame retardant fibre composites.
Mr Hamzat, an expert in Mechanical Engineering, has captured national and international attention with his successful development of a composite material with exceptional fire resistance properties that meet the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) standards for composite materials in the aerospace industry.
Described as the first of its kind in the advanced material research world, Mr Hamzat’s research was recently published in *Hybrid Advance* and is garnering intense critical acclaim in national and international media.
As a result of the research’s potential and possible impact on the global aviation industry, The Composites and Advanced Materials Expo (CAMX) invited Mr Hamzat to make a presentation at the conference in San Diego, California, USA, between September 9 and 12, 2024. The event is regarded as the largest, most comprehensive composites and advanced materials event in North America.
The study employed the nanotechnology concept to incorporate nanomaterials into the matrix of the composite to enhance its flame-retardant properties. To further improve smoke suppression, a copper (Cu) film was applied as a coating to the hybrid composite. This innovative approach resulted in the material achieving a UL-94 V-0 rating, which signifies excellent flame retardancy. The interaction between the nanosized additives and the matrix contributed to the material’s enhanced performance.
At the presentation of the study report in Lagos recently, Mr Hamzat posited that the introduction of these materials to aircraft manufacturing will avert the loss of lives and severe economic losses during plane crashes, as carbon fibre composites constitute over 50% of Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 XWB wings and fuselage.
Mr Hamzat said that though the introduction of nanosized flame retardant additives might influence the mechanical and structural properties of the materials, it is nonetheless a giant step to strengthen aviation safety. The researcher said that based on the findings of various failure analyses on the materials, it is recommended that major aircraft manufacturers like Boeing, Airbus, Dassault, and Textron take advantage of the discovery for their manufacturing.
He is also a registered member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) with years of experience in teaching, research, and community service. Mr Hamzat has authored numerous journal articles and books in the fields of nanotechnology, advanced materials, and renewable energy. This breakthrough underscores Mr Hamzat’s commitment to addressing global challenges in aviation safety and his significant contributions to the advancement of engineering and material science.
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