Invited Speaker

Abstract: The growing demand for lightweight multifunctional composites with integrated structural and sensory capabilities has driven innovations in advanced protective materials. This work pioneers the development of polyborosiloxane (PBS) and PBS-enhanced carbon fiber composites, systematically investigating their impact resistance and real-time force-sensing functionality. Two distinct PBS formulations with tailored crosslinking densities were synthesized, followed by comprehensive characterization of their strain-rate-dependent viscoelastic behavior and impact energy dissipation mechanisms. Crucially, our findings reveal that under dynamic high-strain-rate compression, PBS transitions sequentially through three distinct phases: (1) initial viscoelastic deformation, (2) shear-induced yielding plateau, and (3) strain-hardening densification. Compared to traditional epoxy/carbon laminates, PBS/Carbon composites exhibited superior impact energy absorption, withstanding up to seven repeated impacts due to the brittle cracking of PBS and its stiffening transition and the self-healing function. Moreover, the addition of carbon nanotubes to the PBS matrix enabled the development of a force-sensing composite, which could detect and measure impact forces. The PBS/Carbon laminates also exhibited enhanced flexibility, making them suitable for advanced protective applications requiring repeated impact resistance and real-time force monitoring.

Biography: Dr. Xin Zhang is currently an Assistant Professor at Southern University of Science and Technology, serving as a Ph.D. Supervisor. He earned his B.Eng. from the Honors College at Northwestern Polytechnical University and M.Eng. from School of Aeronautics at NPU, followed by a Ph.D. from the Interdisciplinary Graduate School at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, where he subsequently conducted postdoctoral research. His research focuses on solid mechanics, impact dynamics, mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced composites, multifunctional composites, and energy-absorbing structures. He has published over 50 SCI-indexed papers, including 30+ first/corresponding-author articles in top-tier journals such as Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, Advanced Functional Materials, Composites Science and Technology, Composites Part A & Part B, International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, Carbon, and Appl Phys Lett.

He was awarded the "Pearl River Talent (Young Scholar)" by Guangdong Province and also a recipient of the IAAM Scientist Medal from the International Association for Advanced Materials. He leads multiple research programs as PI, including NSFC General Program, Sub-project of National Key R&D Program, etc. He actively contributes to multiple SCI journals as the Editorial Board Member/Guest Editor. He is also the Committee Member of the China Composites Society, Member of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).