Dr. John Pappas, a postdoctoral research associate in the School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks at Arizona State University (ASU), will give a seminar titled "Advanced Manufacturing of Advanced and Multifunctional Composites."

Abstract: With an ever-growing emphasis to decarbonize our transportation and energy industries, it is critical to develop lighter and cost-effective structural materials with enhanced and multifunctional performance. In recent decades, fiber reinforced polymer composites have become a viable and sustainable alternative to metals in structural applications due to their excellent specific mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, thermal stability and energy storage capabilities. However, current composite manufacturing methods are energy-inefficient, labor intensive, iterative and cost-prohibitive. Thus, continued development of innovative technologies for composites that automate processes, promote production efficiency, and enable multifunctionality are essential. In this talk, I will present new approaches for rapid, energy efficient and cost-effective manufacturing of advanced composites for transportation and energy applications. First, I will introduce large-scale 3D printing of fiber reinforced polymer composites for high-speed manufacturing. Second, I will discuss our current progress on robotic additive manufacturing of high-performance polymer composites and architected composite structures. Lastly, I will overview our recent efforts to fabricate multifunctional composites using advanced manufacturing techniques and focusing on multifunctional electrodes, solid polymer electrolytes, and 3D printing of structural batteries.

Biography: Dr. John Pappas is currently a postdoctoral research associate in the School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks at Arizona State University (ASU) where he develops novel manufacturing techniques for fiber reinforced polymer composites. Prior to joining ASU, Dr. Pappas earned his B.S. in mechanical engineering in 2019, and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering in 2023, all from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, where he was awarded the GAANN fellowship. His research focuses on creating innovative methods to manufacture advanced and multifunctional composites through strategic implementation of engineering and materials design, advanced manufacturing strategies and functional materials while considering the fundamentals of the target system including design, manufacture, and operation using an interdisciplinary approach. Dr. Pappas has authored 11 papers published in peer-reviewed journals and his research is supported by the Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Defense (DoD).