MAI graduate student developed prospective material for civil aviation

Graduate student of the Department No. 101 “Design and certification of aviation equipment” Sergey Kovtunov developed a promising material for civil aircraft. The research is devoted to a polymer composite material made of carbon nanotubes. Read below the interview in which he told us about his research projects, professional path and plans for the future.

– I did not stop at a bachelor's degree because of many reasons, or rather opportunities for development in different directions. Even in the first years of my bachelor's degree, I began to think about enrolling to an English-language program. By graduation, it turned into a dream, after which I entered and subsequently graduated from the joint master's degree program of MAI and Shanghai Jiao-Tong University, – said Sergey Kovtunov.

That is how he described the double master's degree program: the first year of study was held in Shanghai at Jiao Tong University. The second year the students spent in MAI, at the end of which the thesis was defended at the university. Then the master's student came back to China for six months to get a second education document.

Sergey decided to conquer the next stage of education at his alma mater: now in graduate school he conducts his own research and wants to become a candidate of technical sciences. In his dissertation, the graduate student is working on the development of a polymer composite material with carbon nanotubes to apply it to the construction of civil aircraft. So to speak, Sergey is developing ways to modernize the characteristics of flying devices. And a material like carbon nanotubes is great for improving the strength characteristics of aircraft parts.

What Sergey himself thinks about the prospects of his development

He believes that the composite material can be used not only as part of his research.

– In a while, when carbon nanotubes will be synthesized in an industrial volume, their production will not be so expensive. Scientific and technological progress will ensure that these nanotubes are distributed evenly, and they will be used in electronic devices, lithium-ion batteries, airplanes and cars, – he said.

Sergey believes that nanotubes are more durable and electrically conductive, which will make the equipment in which they are used more reliable and durable. In addition to studying theory, he devotes most of his time to professional development. He is an engineer of the laboratory No. 2 "Composite Materials" NIO-101. Here the young scientist is also working on his dissertation, but on the practical part. Using the crash test method, he checks the strength of virtual models made of composite materials.

Future plans

At the end of his postgraduate studies, Sergey will present the results of his research at the dissertation defense. In the future, he plans to explore the chosen topic even deeper.

– Definitely, we need to pay the debt to our native walls – I will combine teaching and work, save ideas for a doctoral dissertation. The postgraduate program is not similar to what it was in previous educational programs. I would like to wish applicants to choose an interesting topic, which will be a joy to develop, and to responsibly approach the choice of a supervisor. First of all, to allocate time for recreation and hobbies, so as not to burn out, – he concluded.