Professor Oana Ghita
Professor
Engineering
Oana holds a Chair in Materials Science and Manufacturing in the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy. She is the Research Lead for Exeter Engineering 2030 for the Engineering Department and she is also Co-director of Exeter Technology Group (ETG) which includes three research centres: Exeter Advanced Technologies (X-AT); Centre for Additive Layer Manufacturing (CALM) and Centre for Alternative Materials and Remanufacturing (CALMARE).
She is the academic lead for the CALM centre most of her current research work being in this area.
She started her career as a PhD student and Research Fellow at Cranfield Defence and Security (CDS) part of Cranfield University, based at the Ministry of Defence establishement in Oxfordshire, in the Sensors and Composites Research Group. She later joined the University of Exeter.
At Exeter, she has secured funding in value of £10m to Exeter through a wide range of research projects (TSB, EU and EPSRC). Her research is focused on high performance polymers and composites and related manufacturing processes including conventional and new emerging manufacturing processes such as Additive Manufacturing (AM). Her work concentrates on understanding the relationship between molecular structure/morphology, manufacturing and desired final properties.
In AM, Oana works in Large Format AM, Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) and Material Extrusion (MEX) focused primarely on high performance, high temperature engineering polymers such as PEEK, PEK, HTPA, PEI as well as composites (Gf, Cf, graphatised carbon, ceramic - fibres and fillers and CNTs reinforcement) and polymeric blends. Exeter University has the unique capabilities and expertise in additive manufacture of high performance polymers using commercial High Temperature AM systems: LFAM (RapidFusion), EOS P800, EOS P810, 3DGENCE F340, MiniFactory Ultra 3D and Intamsys and in house developed - High Temperature MEX systems.
The Large Format AM system is able to print large parts with high performance polymers thanks to the integration of the DEMEX system (Directed Energy Material Extrusion) provided by LEAM. This is the only system in UK able to operate with such polymers.
She has also been involved in the development of in-line monitoring sensors and novel instrumentation for efficient material use and reduction of manufacturing waste (near IR and Raman spectroscopy, combined NIR/Raman-thermal analysis).
Oana works closely with industry, is a member of the EPSRC Peer Review College and reviewer and technical expert for European Commission.
Selected member of the EPSRC Early Career Forum in Manufacturing Research in 2012
Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (FIMMM)
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=NREbOyUAAAAJ&hl=en
Most Recent Projects
Multimillion Industrial Partnership with Victrex Plc (2nd) - Next generation of PAEK materials and processes
Innovate UK - Overprinting with High Performance Polymers (OVERHIPP)
Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) - Sartorius- Stedim - The development of polymeric materials optimised for AM for Biopharma industry
EPSRC - Researcher in Residence - In partnership with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) - High Temperature Additive Manufacturing - In search for commercial applications
Innovate UK - Multifunctional PAEK nanocomposites for laser sintering (F4 PAEK)
Multimillion Industrial Partnership with Victrex Plc (1st) - Next Generation of PAEK materials for AM processes
Industry funded Project - Development of polyamide grades for AM
Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI)- High temperature, affordable polymer composites for AM aerospace applications (50668-379162)
EPSRC - Novel high performance polymeric composite materials for additive manufacturing of multifunctional components (EP/N034627/1)
Innovate UK (IUK) - Multifunctional PAEK nanocomposites for Laser SIntering (F4 PAEK) (89963-549685)
Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) - Finisterre - The development of a new sustainable wetsuit with improved options for repair and recycling
