Sweet Dreams & Flying Machines: Nanotubes, Nanocomposites and Aerospace Applications
Michael Jakubinek
Senior Research Officer, Division of Emerging Technologies, National Research Council Canada
Advances in materials, throughout history, have been a key enabler for technology advances in aerospace and other sectors. Today nanomaterials, in particular carbon nanotubes and related materials, are appearing in increasing numbers of composites applications and are a leading candidate to push the frontier of advanced, multifunctional materials. This potential will be highlighted focusing on activities at the National Research Council in the area of carbon nanotubes and boron nitride nanotubes for multifunctional nanocomposites, in particular a current effort toward pilot-scale manufacturing of fabric-like nanocomposites and their development and application to a series of cases including fire protection, electromagnetic interference shielding, heating, and as a multifunctional skin for a stretchable morphing wing model.
Michael Jakubinek obtained his undergraduate degree in Chemical Physics from Queen’s University followed by MSc and PhD degrees in Physics, specializing in Materials Science, at Dalhousie University. He joined the National Research Council Canada (NRC) in 2010 and currently holds the position of Senior Research Officer in the Division of Emerging Technologies, where his activities are focused on nanocomposite and multifunctional materials and their applications including for aerospace – an area in which he collaborates extensively with NRC’s Aerospace Research Centre. Since 2020, he has also served as a technical expert on multifunctional materials for Canada on a 5-Eyes defence R&T panel under the TTCP program. His work on interdisciplinary science and engineering teams has been recognized by a number of awards, including a 2015 Canadian Public Service Award for Scientific Achievement and a 2022 NRC IP Advancement Award. He has co-authored 50 journal papers and two invited review chapters.