Carol Rodricks

Project description

The simultaneous improvement of the mechanical strength and toughness in composite materials is a challenge. These properties are generally mutually exclusive of each other, with the improvement of one typically being at the expense of a degradation of the other. Nature, however, is able to resolve this conflict in much more sophisticated methods than those seen in traditional engineering structures, through the use of multi-scale self-assembled structural designs.

My project is a study on the use of new bio-inspired structural designs to generate toughness and strength increase in polymer-based fibre composites. In particular, it focuses on the use of such designs as toughening mechanisms at the interface of these composites. Indeed, tuning the matrix-filler interface of a composite material plays a critical role in controlling the mechanical properties of the material.

Education

PhD researcher at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel (2017 – present)

MChem (Hons) Materials Chemistry with external placement, University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK (2011 – 2016)

Research interests

Bio-inspired multi-scale composites, Filler-matrix interfacial properties of composites, Mechanical properties manipulation, Manufacture and testing of composites

Personal note

I love travelling. The world is an extremely fascinating place and I truly feel blessed to be able to explore it. I enjoy encountering new cultures and discovering the similarities and differences between them and my own. I like meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds and find their diverse perspectives on life intriguing.

I enjoy reading, painting, watching movies and cycling, and have recently discovered a love for snorkeling. I am a bit of a history buff and enjoy visiting museums and art galleries. I also love music and think that the world would be a much drearier place without it.