Composite Materials: State of the Art and Design Process

This lecture covers the state of the art in composite materials, including nano-composite, bio-composite, and smart composite materials. Students are guided through lectures on cost management, sustainability, and circular economy, and are then formed into interdisciplinary groups to work on a project resembling a startup. The instructor emphasizes the importance of thinking globally in composite processing, considering factors such as production volume, prototype vs. mass production, materials, and cost evaluation. Students are encouraged to develop their project coherently and understand the full ecosystem in which it operates. The lecture culminates in students presenting their projects to their peers, fostering discussion and collaboration to achieve the best results for future applications.