Advanced materials and manufacturing research for energy, healthcare and nuclear technologies

Pazhani, Ashwath (2025) Advanced materials and manufacturing research for energy, healthcare and nuclear technologies. In: Innovating Manufacturing and Technologies in Cumbria, 19 November 2025, University of Cumbria, Brampton Road Campus, Carlisle, UK. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Presentation given by Dr. Ashwath Pazhani, PhD, Assistant Professor (Lecturer) in Mechanical Engineering, University of Cumbria, UK.

This presentation highlights the University of Cumbria’s growing leadership in sustainable materials and advanced manufacturing for the hydrogen economy, energy transition, and emerging low-carbon industries. It introduces the research portfolio of the Group for Innovation in Hydrogen Research and Sustainability (iHRS), focusing on the development of fully recyclable graphene-reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs), hydrogen-compatible materials, and net-zero manufacturing technologies. The talk outlines key challenges facing the sector—including material degradation, hydrogen embrittlement, permeation, fabrication costs, and limited circularity—and presents innovative solutions ranging from energy-efficient additive manufacturing and microwave-assisted processing to multiscale modelling, AI-driven materials design, and life-cycle assessment. The presentation further demonstrates the impact of this work across energy, healthcare, and nuclear applications, emphasizing cost-effective storage solutions, improved safety performance under hydrogen exposure, and up to 30% reductions in energy consumption for hydrogen storage and transfer systems. It outlines ongoing collaborations with industrial and international partners and the strategic alignment with UK Net Zero goals, including future infrastructure projects such as BEAM-HUB and major funding pipelines through EPSRC, Innovate UK, Hydrogen Europe Research, and ERC schemes. Overall, the talk showcases how applied research, workforce development, and cross-sector partnerships can accelerate the safe, scalable, and sustainable adoption of hydrogen technologies in the UK and globally.

Some of Cumbria’s key businesses and organisations gathered at the University of Cumbria's Brampton Road campus in Carlisle for this event, hosted by the University's Research and Knowledge Exchange (RKE) colleagues. The event sought to bring together innovators, industry leaders and stakeholders to explore opportunities in manufacturing and technology across the region, and marked an important step in strengthening research and knowledge exchange opportunities between the University of Cumbria and businesses.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Lecture)
Departments:	Institute of Engineering, Computing and Advanced Manufacture
Depositing User:	Anna Lupton
Date Deposited:	08 Dec 2025 11:46
Last Modified:	08 Dec 2025 11:52
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/9232

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