Research Stay at Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials (IFAM), Bremen, Germany
April 13 – May 13, 2025

As part of the MAPEX PhD Research Grant, I had the privilege of conducting a one-month research stay at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials (IFAM) in Bremen, under the mentorship of Dr. atharina Koschek. My project focused on the development of polysiloxane–benzoxazine imine-linked vitrimer composites designed for reprocessability, shape recovery, and carbon fiber reinforcement.

During my stay, I engaged in hands-on fabrication of high-performance polymer matrices using sustainable materials and dynamic covalent chemistry principles. The composite matrices were reinforced using both recycled and multidirectional carbon fibers through hand lay-up and compression moulding techniques. These processing techniques were crucial to enhance the mechanical properties of the otherwise soft polymer films, allowing us to prepare reprocessable, self-healing composites with improved thermal and structural performance.

Working alongside experienced researchers and PhD students, I benefited from interdisciplinary discussions and practical training on advanced composite manufacturing and characterization methods. This collaborative and stimulating environment helped me refine my experimental protocols and gain insights into the industrial viability of dynamic polymer networks, including solvent-assisted recyclability and carbon fiber recovery from the vitrimer matrix.

This research stay has not only contributed valuable experimental data to my doctoral thesis but also laid the foundation for future collaborative projects between my home institution and Fraunhofer IFAM. I also had great time exploring city culture of Germans. I am deeply grateful to the MAPEX Center for Materials and Processes for financially supporting this opportunity, which significantly enriched my research capabilities and broadened my professional network.