PhD Position Developing Magnetic Nanomaterials in the Project "Welding Made Easy"
open universiteit · Delft, NL
Do you want to work on cutting edge nanotechnology research? Are you interested in designing magnetic nanoparticles that switch off their own heating for smart composite welding? Job description We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate with a background in physical chemistry, materials science, or nanomagnetism to join the project "Welding Made Easy," funded through the NWO KIC programme. Welding Made Easy addresses one of the key bottlenecks in lightweight composite manufacturing: how to join fibre reinforced polymer structures reliably, without the weight penalty of bolts and rivets or the strict process control demanded by adhesive bonding. The project shifts control of the welding process from complex machinery to the material itself, by embedding magnetic nanoparticles with a tailored Curie or compensation temperature into a thermoplastic interlayer. When exposed to a high frequency magnetic field, these particles heat the interface until the target processing temperature is reached — at which point their magnetic losses collapse, acting as a built in thermal switch that prevents overheating. The same particles double as sensors, enabling real time monitoring of the wel