NB: It should be noted that Auxetix has recently taken a strategic decision to focus all its resources on its blast-protection and ballistic-protection technologies. All other developments are therefore 'on hold' until further notice.

Composite Reinforcements
Reinforcement fibres can be used in composite structures to reduce weight or increase safety. The primary failure mechanism of composite materials is through reinforcement “pull-out“. This is a tensile failure caused by the reinforcing fibres getting narrower and breaking free of the resin that is meant to hold them together (de-bonding). They then slip through the remaining matrix until they break free – the energy required to do this defines the amount of energy that the structure can absorb under a failure condition. Due to the fact that auxetic materials expand, however, if a small proportion (<5%) of the conventional fibres were replaced with fine auxetic yarns, the energy required to cause de-bonding and slippage would be much greater. This would increase the load required to cause structural failure, and also increase the structure's ability to absorb loads imposed by extreme events, such as impacts or explosions. In other words, a composite structure could be lighter for the same strength, or stronger for the same weight.

Smart Sensors – Composite Structures
Smart sensors can be used in a variety of composite structures as in-situ monitoring devices. One of the problems with conventional structures is that when they experience loads or shocks that may have weakened or damaged them, there is rarely any satisfactory method of assessing their integrity. One way around this is to incorporate embedded sensors during the construction phase. This can present its own problems, however. If conventional optical fibre sensors are used, they are usually not sensitive enough to measure movements in relatively brittle materials. They are also limited in many other ways – the novel sensors being developed at Auxetix provide much higher signal resolution whilst providing a range of other benefits at the same time.

Smart Sensors – Wearable Computation, Smart Clothing & Fabrics, etc.
Please see the Communications section for further details.

Blast Materials
Please see the Defence section for further details.