Professor Jacqueline Akhavan
Head of Centre for Defence Chemistry
Location: Shrivenham campus
E: j.akhavan@cranfield.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1793 785324
Department of Engineering and Applied Science
Current activities
Professor Akhavan is Head of the Centre for Defence Chemistry and is also leading the Synthesis and Formulations Group. Her main research activity is in the development of PBXs for insensitive munitions which contain inert and energetic polymers. This has involved small scale capability tests, mixing and pressing larger quantities, and testing the final product for hazard and performance tests. Her research group are also developing techniques for the recovery and recycling of energetic components from PBXs using super critical fluids, control of particle size by spray drying and fluid energy milling.
Within the Centre for Defence Chemistry she is responsible for the delivery of education and research in propellants, pyrotechnics and high explosives together with chemical defence, fuel technology, detection, and environment impact.
Professor Akhavan is carries out consultancy work from clients both within the UK and overseas. She is the Course Director of the Explosives Ordnance Engineering MSc and has also developed bespoke courses for industrial companies and MoD. She teaches on a variety of courses and is involved in the development of e-learning modules.
Clients
Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), Chemring, QinetiQ, BAe Systems, NATO, Dstl, MoD, African Explosives Ltd (AEL), Esterline Defence, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), SERCO, Burohappold.
Background
Professor Akhavan has a BSc (Hons) in chemistry and an MPhil and PhD in polymeric chemistry. She is a chartered chemist and a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. She joined Cranfield University in 1987 as a lecturer and was awarded a personal chair in explosives chemistry in 2007. She is actively involved in all aspects of academia including research, teaching, course administration, conference organization and technology. She has a number of fully funded industrial research contracts with UK and international companies. Her expertise is in the development of new polymer bonded explosive (PBXs) formulations for insensitive munitions. She is also involved in developing new PBXs which can be recovered and recycled at their end of life.
Selected publications
Journal article(s)
J Akhavan, I Grose and S Rabin, Modification of Pyrotechnic Formulations to Aid Recovery, Recycling and Demilitarization, Propellants Explosives & Pyrotechnics Journal, V22, No. 2, p81-86, 1997
J Akhavan, Investigation into the Network Structure of Plasticized Rocket Propellant, Polymer, V39, No. 1, p215-221, 1998
J Akhavan, E Koh, S Waring and E Kronfli, Effect of UV And Thermal Radiation on PolyNimmo, Polymer V42(18) p7711-7718, 2001
J.Akhavan, J.C.F.Millett And N.K.Bourne, Morphological Studies of Inert Rocket Propellant Subjected to Shock Loading, American Physics Society, USA July 2003
Y.Meziere, J.Akhavan, G.S Stevens J.C.F Millett and N.K Bourne, The Shock Hugoniot of Hydroxy-Terminated Polybutadiene, American Physics Society, USA July 2003
J. Akhavan, E. Kronfli and S.C.Waring, Effect of Gamma Radiation on PolyNIMMO, Polymer, V44(25), p7617-7624, 2003
J.Akhavan, E Kronfli and S.C.Waring, Energetic Polymer Subjected to High Energy Radiation, Polymer, Vol 45(7) pp 2119-2126, 2004
J.Akhavan, G.K.Tan and A.J.Bellamy, Recovery of Energetic Materials from super Critical CO2, 10th International Seminar, New Trends in Research of Energetic Materials, University of Pardubice, Czech Republic (25-27 April 2007) p402-413
M.R.Andrews, S.E.Gaulter, J.Akhavan and P.Bolton, FT-IR Monitoring of Cure Rate and Effect of Plasticizer Content of a Series of Cross-Linked PolyNIMMO-Based Systems, 38th International Annual Conference of ICT, Karlsruhe, June 2007
J Akhavan and M R Andrews, Review of Paste Explosives (PEX), Propellants, Explosives Pyrotechnics, 35(5), 425-432, 2010
Authored book(s)
Akhavan, J. (2004) "Chemistry of Explosives 2nd Edition"
Reviews
J Akhavan ‘Handbook of Explosion Prevention and Protection’, Editors Martin Hattwig and Henrikus Steen, J Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester 2004, for the Chemistry & Industry magazine, issue no 24, 20 December 2004 p23
J Akhavan ‘The Chemistry of Fireworks, Michael S Russell, Royal Society of Chemistry, Second Edition, 2009’ for the Materials Today Magazine V12(4), 2009, p47 published by Elsevier Ltd, Kidlington, UK
J Akhavan ‘The Chemistry of Fireworks, Michael S Russell, Royal Society of Chemistry, Second Edition, 2009’ Chemistry & Industry, London, United Kingdom, 2009, v11, p30
