Catalytic oxidation of C-C brakes aerospace brakes

PhD student: Amy Gravel

Academic supervisor: Dr A Chrysanthou

Supporting supervisor: Dr G Ren Funding: £75,000

Funding body: EPSRC and Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems plc

Period: June 2011-May 2014  

This research is timely as C-C aircraft brakes suffer increased oxidation as a result of catalysis with chemicals that are contained in deicing fluids. Potassium and sodium acetates that are contained in the deicers, dissociate to their respective oxides which are responsible for the catalytic oxidation.

The work aims to understand the mechanisms of catalysis of the oxidation reaction.