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P05 / scientific study / published

Contactless Characterization under Acid Exposure

Wireless measurements and multiscale models connected acid diffusion with changes in nanocomposite electrical and RF behaviour.

2020-2024Northumbria University, United Kingdom
NANOCOMPOSITE PHYSICS MAPContactless Characterization under Acid Exposure
01CNT NETWORKdispersion / agglomeration / porosity
02TRANSPORTpercolation / tunnelling / diffusion
03MECHANICSmodulus / viscoelastic response
04EM RESPONSEconductivity / permittivity / loss
05CHARACTERIZATIONDMA / nanoindentation / VNA

A material-scale map from morphology to measurable physical behaviour.

01

Problem or Industrial Need

Chemical penetration can degrade CNT/epoxy structures while conventional inspection may require disassembly and extensive processing.

02

Engineering or Scientific Solution

A contactless wireless method using microstrip-antenna scattering parameters, supported by multiscale electrical and porosity models.

03

Sebastian's Technical Contribution

Investigated acid-exposure effects, performed RF measurements, developed the computational model and interpreted conductivity and porosity changes.

04

Methods and Tools Used

  • Anechoic-chamber VNA measurements
  • Microstrip-antenna S11/S21 analysis
  • Acid-exposure comparison over time
  • Multiscale conductivity, porosity and dielectric modelling
05

Prototype, Simulation and Experimental Evidence

experiment

Time-dependent RF response

Return and insertion loss were measured for control and acid-exposed specimens.

simulation

Multiscale material model

Conductivity and porosity changes reproduced the observed return-loss trend.

publication

Composite Structures 2023

Peer-reviewed experimental and computational study.

06

Measurable Result or Published Finding

Wireless degradation signal

The published study found that acid diffusion altered return and insertion loss and supported contactless SHM potential.

07

Diagrams and Publications

NANOCOMPOSITE PHYSICS MAPContactless Characterization under Acid Exposure
01CNT NETWORKdispersion / agglomeration / porosity
02TRANSPORTpercolation / tunnelling / diffusion
03MECHANICSmodulus / viscoelastic response
04EM RESPONSEconductivity / permittivity / loss
05CHARACTERIZATIONDMA / nanoindentation / VNA

A material-scale map from morphology to measurable physical behaviour.

08

Role, Team Attribution, Institution and Project Context

Lead author and Doctoral Researcher; investigation, formal analysis, software and original writing.

Connected work

P012020-2024

Portable Microwave and Passive Wireless Sensing Platform

Problem
Conventional material-health assessment can require contact, disassembly or laboratory processing that limits continuous industrial monitoring.
Solution
A portable non-contact microwave sensing architecture that links passive RF structures, instrumentation, controlled positioning and computational analysis.
Evidence / result
1 integrated portable platform
RF architectureVNAchipless resonatorsPython
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P042020-2024

Free-Space Microwave Characterization of CNT/Epoxy

Problem
CNT concentration changes electrical and dielectric behaviour, but a contactless method is needed to assess how those changes alter microwave response.
Solution
A free-space patch-antenna characterization method combining VNA measurements with finite-element electromagnetic analysis.
Evidence / result
Distinct field-region behaviour
free-space measurementpatch antennasVNAFEM
View system
P062020-2024

Acid Diffusion, Mechanical Response and Wireless SHM

Problem
Harsh chemical environments create degradation gradients that require both local and bulk characterization to understand structural condition.
Solution
A combined mechanical and electromagnetic study using DMA, nanoindentation and VNA measurements across CNT concentration and acid exposure.
Evidence / result
Cross-domain measurement agreement
DMAnanoindentationVNAacid diffusion
View system