Contact Dr Sameer Rahatekar
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 754685
- Email: S.S.Rahatekar@cranfield.ac.uk
- ORCID
Areas of expertise
- Aerospace Manufacturing
- Aerospace Structures
- Biomass and Waste
- Biomedical Engineering
- Composites
- Manufacturing of Functional Materials
- Aerospace Materials
- Nanotechnology
- Sustainable Manufacturing
Background
Dr Sameer Rahatekar earned his PhD at University of Cambridge where he worked on nano-composites modelling and manufacturing. He worked as a postdoctoral researcher at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), USA where he worked on manufacturing strong and multi-functional natural polymer based fibres using ionic liquids as a benign solvent. He also worked on nano-particles dispersion, rheology and nano-composites manufacturing at NIST. He was a lecturer at the Advanced Composite Centre for Innovation and Science (ACCIS) at University of Bristol where he worked on manufacturing strong of cellulose fibres as precursors for carbon fibres and on nano-particles reinforced carbon/glass fibre composites for improved fracture toughness, erosion resistance and lightening strike protection of composites parts used in aerospace industry.
Current activities
My research is focused on utilisation of natural polymers such as Cellulose (derived from plant biomass), Alginate (derived from seaweed) and chitin/chitosan (derived from seafood waste) for engineering and biomedical use. We have developed environmentally benign method of fibre spinning regenerated high performance cellulose, chitin and chitosan fibres. The high performance cellulose fibres can be used for making renewable/sustainable composites. We have also developed a making foams from cellulose and chitin/chitosan which can be used in biodegradable packaging as well for biomedical use.
I also work on manufacturing toughed glass/carbon fibre composites using nanoparticles and rubber as toughening agents. We have develop a unique roll on coating process to produce of nanoparticles reinforced carbon/glass fibre multi-scale composites in improved conductivity, fracture toughness and strength.
Clients
EPSRC
Innovate UK
The Royal Academy of Engineering
BBSRC/BBNet
Newton-Bhabha Funds
The British Council
Haydale Ltd
Meggitt Aerospace
Hexla Ltd
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Taiwo AS, Ayre DS, Khorami M & Rahatekar SS. (2025). Development of Fiber Cement Boards Using Recycled Jute Fibers for Building Applications. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 37(1)
- Orisawayi AO, Koziol K & Rahatekar SS. (2025). Development and characterisation of integrated wet-spun alginate-Moringa oleifera composite fibers for potential water purification. Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications, 9
- Lanot A, Tiwari S, Purnell P, Omar AM, Ribul M, .... (2025). Demonstrating a biobased concept for the production of sustainable bacterial cellulose from mixed textile, agricultural and municipal wastes. Journal of Cleaner Production, 486
- Taiwo AS, Ayre DS, Khorami M & Rahatekar SS. (2024). Optimizing the mechanical properties of cement composite boards reinforced with cellulose pulp and bamboo fibers for building applications in low-cost housing estates. Materials, 17(3)
- Orisawayi AO, Koziol KKK, Hao S, Tiwari S & Rahatekar SS. (2024). Development of hybrid electrospun alginate-pulverized moringa composites. RSC Advances, 14(12)
- Badruddin IJ, Silva MP, Tonon T, Gomez LD & Rahatekar SS. (2024). Modulating the properties of brown alga alginate-based fibers using natural cross-linkers for sustainable textile and fashion applications. ACS Omega, 9(35)
- Taiwo AS, Ayre DS, Khorami M & Rahatekar SS. (2024). Assessment of the mechanical and microstructural performance of waste kraft fibre reinforced cement composite incorporating sustainable eco-friendly additives. Buildings, 14(9)
- Silva MP, Badruddin IJ, Tonon T, Rahatekar SS & Gomez LD. (2022). Environmentally benign alginate extraction and fibres spinning from different European Brown algae species. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 226(January)
- Chauhan P, Pathania H, Shriya S, Neetika N, Nidhi N, .... (2022). Solar drying of herbal wealth in Eastern Himalaya: a review. Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, 18(34)
- Aldosari SM, Khan MA & Rahatekar SS. (2021). Manufacturing pitch and polyethylene blends-based fibres as potential carbon fibre precursors. Polymers, 13(9)
- Lu H, Butler JA, Britten NS, Venkatraman PD & Rahatekar SS. (2021). Natural antimicrobial nano composite fibres manufactured from a combination of alginate and oregano essential oil. Nanomaterials, 11(8)
- Aldosari SM, Khan MA & Rahatekar SS. (2021). Influence of high-concentration LLDPE on the manufacturing process and morphology of pitch/LLDPE fibres. Crystals, 11(9)
- Aldosari SM & Rahatekar SS. (2021). Extrusion dwell time and its effect on the mechanical and thermal properties of pitch/LLDPE blend fibres. Crystals, 11(12)
- Javier GG, Esther G-C, Magan N & Rahatekar SS. (2020). Electrospinning alginate/polyethylene oxide and curcumin composite nanofibers. Materials Letters, 270
- Duckworth PF, Maddocks SE, Rahatekar SS & Barbour ME. (2020). Alginate films augmented with chlorhexidine hexametaphosphate particles provide sustained antimicrobial properties for application in wound care. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 31(3)
- Aldosari SM, Khan M & Rahatekar SS. (2020). Manufacturing carbon fibres from pitch and polyethylene blend precursors: a review. Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 9(4)
- Kumar A, Sharma M, Thakur P, Thakur VK, Rahatekar SS, .... (2020). A review on exergy analysis of solar parabolic collectors. Solar Energy, 197
- Jiang Q, Chen G, Kumar A, Mills A, Jani K, .... (2020). Sustainable sandwich composites manufactured from recycled carbon fibers, flax fibers/PP skins, and recycled PET core. Journal of Composites Science, 5(1)
- Lakshmipathi J, Rajamohan V & Rahatekar SS. (2019). Primary and Secondary Instability Region Analysis of Rotating Carbon Nanotube–Reinforced Non-Uniform Hybrid Composite Plates. International Journal of Structural Stability and Dynamics, 19(10)
- Paul Praveen A, Rajamohan V, Arumugam AB & Rahatekar SS. (2019). Assessment of dynamic properties of hybrid ribbon reinforced multifunctional composite sandwich plates: Numerical and experimental investigation. Thin-Walled Structures, 145
- Chen J, Lekawa-Raus A, Trevarthen J, Gizewski T, Lukawski D, .... (2019). Carbon nanotube films spun from a gas phase reactor for manufacturing carbon nanotube film/carbon fibre epoxy hybrid composites for electrical applications. Carbon, 158
- Adu C, Rahatekar SS, Filby J, Ayre D & Jolly MR. (2019). Structural packaging foams prepared by uni-directional freezing of paper sludge cellulose nanofibres and poly (vinyl alcohol). Materials Letters, 253
- Vincent S, Prado R, Kuzmina O, Potter K, Bhardwaj J, .... (2018). Regenerated Cellulose and Willow Lignin Blends as Potential Renewable Precursors for Carbon Fibers. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 6(5)
- Eichhorn SJ, Rahatekar SS, Vignolini S & Windle AH. (2018). New horizons for cellulose nanotechnology. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 376(2112)
- Coscia MG, Bhardwaj J, Singh N, Santonicola MG, Richardson RM, .... (2017). Manufacturing and characterization of regenerated cellulose/curcumin based sustainable composites fibers spun from environmentally benign solvents. Industrial Crops and Products, 111
- Kuzmina O, Bhardwaj J, Rizal Vincent S, Wanasekara ND, Kalossaka LM, .... (2017). Superbase ionic liquids for effective cellulose processing from dissolution to carbonisation. Green Chemistry, 19(24)
- Ciambella J, Stanier DC & Rahatekar SS. (2017). Magnetic alignment of short carbon fibres in curing composites. Composites Part B: Engineering, 109
- Singh N, Chen J, Koziol KK, Hallam KR, Janas D, .... (2016). Chitin and carbon nanotube composites as biocompatible scaffolds for neuron growth. Nanoscale, 8(15)
- Stanier DC, Ciambella J & Rahatekar SS. (2016). Fabrication and characterisation of short fibre reinforced elastomer composites for bending and twisting magnetic actuation. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 91
- Zhu C, Richardson RM, Potter KD, Koutsomitopoulou AF, van Duijneveldt JS, .... (2016). High modulus regenerated cellulose fibers spun from a low molecular weight microcrystalline cellulose solution. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 4(9)
- Wanasekara ND, Michud A, Zhu C, Rahatekar SS, Sixta H, .... (2016). Deformation mechanisms in ionic liquid spun cellulose fibers. Polymer, 99
- Gouda PSS, Williams JD, Yasaee M, Chatterjee V, Jawali D, .... (2016). Drawdown prepreg coating method using epoxy terminated butadiene nitrile rubber to improve fracture toughness of glass epoxy composites. Journal of Composite Materials, 50(7)
- Mehta AS, Singh BK, Singh N, Archana D, Snigdha K, .... (2015). Chitosan silk-based three-dimensional scaffolds containing gentamicin-encapsulated calcium alginate beads for drug administration and blood compatibility. Journal of Biomaterials Applications, 29(9)
- Amroune S, Bezazi A, Belaadi A, Zhu C, Scarpa F, .... (2015). Tensile mechanical properties and surface chemical sensitivity of technical fibres from date palm fruit branches (Phoenix dactylifera L.). Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 71
- Chen J, Trevarthen JA, Deng T, Bradley MSA, Rahatekar SS, .... (2014). Aligned carbon nanotube reinforced high performance polymer composites with low erosive wear. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 67
- Zhu C, Chen J, Koziol KK, Gilman JW, Trulove PC, .... (2014). Effect of fibre spinning conditions on the electrical properties of cellulose and carbon nanotube composite fibres spun using ionic liquid as a benign solvent. Express Polymer Letters, 8(3)
- Stanier DC, Patil AJ, Sriwong C, Rahatekar SS & Ciambella J. (2014). The reinforcement effect of exfoliated graphene oxide nanoplatelets on the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of natural rubber. Composites Science and Technology, 95
- Shivakumar Gouda PS, Chatterjee V, Barhai PK, Jawali D, Rahatekar S, .... (2014). Improved fracture toughness in carbon fibre epoxy composite through novel pre-preg coating method using Epoxy Terminated Butadiene Nitrile rubber. Materials & Design (1980-2015), 62
- Singh N, Koziol KKK, Chen J, Patil AJ, Gilman JW, .... (2013). Ionic liquids-based processing of electrically conducting chitin nanocomposite scaffolds for stem cell growth. Green Chemistry, 15(5)
- Russ M, Rahatekar SS, Koziol K, Farmer B & Peng H-X. (2013). Length-dependent electrical and thermal properties of carbon nanotube-loaded epoxy nanocomposites. Composites Science and Technology, 81
- Singh N, Rahatekar SS, Koziol KKK, Ng THS, Patil AJ, .... (2013). Directing Chondrogenesis of Stem Cells with Specific Blends of Cellulose and Silk. Biomacromolecules, 14(5)
- Broughton WR, Koukoulas T, Woolliams P, Williams J & Rahatekar SS. (2013). Assessment of nanoparticle loading and dispersion in polymeric materials using optical coherence tomography. Polymer Testing, 32(7)
- Williams J, Broughton W, Koukoulas T & Rahatekar SS. (2013). Plasma treatment as a method for functionalising and improving dispersion of carbon nanotubes in epoxy resins. Journal of Materials Science, 48(3)
- Williams J, Graddage N & Rahatekar S. (2013). Effects of plasma modified carbon nanotube interlaminar coating on crack propagation in glass epoxy composites. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 54
- Haward SJ, Sharma V, Butts CP, McKinley GH & Rahatekar SS. (2012). Shear and Extensional Rheology of Cellulose/Ionic Liquid Solutions. Biomacromolecules, 13(5)
- Pujari S, Rahatekar S, Gilman JW, Koziol KK, Windle AH, .... (2011). Shear-induced anisotropy of concentrated multiwalled carbon nanotube suspensions using x-ray scattering. Journal of Rheology, 55(5)
- Rahatekar SS, Zammarano M, Matko S, Koziol KK, Windle AH, .... (2010). Effect of carbon nanotubes and montmorillonite on the flammability of epoxy nanocomposites. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 95(5)
- Rahatekar SS, Shaffer MSP & Elliott JA. (2010). Modelling percolation in fibre and sphere mixtures: Routes to more efficient network formation. Composites Science and Technology, 70(2)
- Pujari S, Rahatekar SS, Gilman JW, Koziol KK, Windle AH, .... (2009). Orientation dynamics in multiwalled carbon nanotube dispersions under shear flow. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 130(21)
- Rahatekar SS, Koziol KK, Kline SR, Hobbie EK, Gilman JW, .... (2009). Length‐Dependent Mechanics of Carbon‐Nanotube Networks. Advanced Materials, 21(8)
- Rahatekar S, Rasheed A, Jain R, Zammaranoa M, Koziol KK, .... (2009). Processing of Natural Fibers Nanocomposites Using Ionic Liquids. ECS Transactions, 16(49)
- Rahatekar SS, Rasheed A, Jain R, Zammarano M, Koziol KK, .... (2009). Solution spinning of cellulose carbon nanotube composites using room temperature ionic liquids. Polymer, 50(19)
- Pujari S, Burghardt WR, Rahatekar SS, Windle AH, Koziol KK, .... (2008). Shear Induced Alignment of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Dispersions via Small Angle X-Ray Scattering. AIP Conference Proceedings, 1027(1)
- Zammarano M, Krämer RH, Harris R, Ohlemiller TJ, Shields JR, .... (2008). Flammability reduction of flexible polyurethane foams via carbon nanofiber network formation. Polymers for Advanced Technologies, 19(6)
- Haggenmueller R, Rahatekar SS, Fagan JA, Chun J, Becker ML, .... (2008). Comparison of the Quality of Aqueous Dispersions of Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes Using Surfactants and Biomolecules. Langmuir, 24(9)
- Ma AWK, Mackley MR & Rahatekar SS. (2007). Experimental observation on the flow-induced assembly of Carbon nanotube suspensions to form helical bands. Rheologica Acta, 46(7)
- Bellayer S, Gilman JW, Rahatekar SS, Bourbigot S, Flambard X, .... (2007). Characterization of SWCNT and PAN/SWCNT films. Carbon, 45(12)
- Rahatekar SS, Koziol KKK, Butler SA, Elliott JA, Shaffer MSP, .... (2006). Optical microstructure and viscosity enhancement for an epoxy resin matrix containing multiwall carbon nanotubes. Journal of Rheology, 50(5)
- Rahatekar SS, Gilman JW, Koziol KK, Butler S, Elliott JA, .... (2006). Effect of Aggregation on the Rheological Properties of Carbon Nanotube Dispersions. MRS Proceedings, 953(1)
- Rahatekar SS, Hamm M, Shaffer MSP & Elliott JA. (2005). Mesoscale modeling of electrical percolation in fiber-filled systems. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 123(13)
- Rahatekar SS, Roux JA, Lackey E & Vaughan JG. (2005). Multiple Injection Port Simulation for Resin Injection Pultrusion. Polymers and Polymer Composites, 13(6)
- Rahatekar SS & Roux JA. (2005). Injection Pultrusion Simulation for Polyester/Glass Mat/Rovings/Mat Composites. Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 24(1)
- Rahatekar SS & Roux JA. (2004). Epoxy/Glass Resin Injection Pultrusion Simulation. Polymers and Polymer Composites, 12(7)
- Rahatekar SS & Roux JA. (2003). Numerical Simulation of Pressure Variation and Resin Flow in Injection Pultrusion. Journal of Composite Materials, 37(12)
Conference Papers
- Orisawayi AO, Koziol K, Hao S, Tiwari S & Rahatekar SS. (2024). Development of Hybrid Electrospun Alginate-Pulverized Moringa Composites
- Hartline MC, Croshaw CD, Hanna HA, Garcia DE, Koziol KKK, .... (2020). Multi-walled carbon nanotube dispersion for aerospace adhesives via continuous high shear reactor
- Rahatekar S, Li W, Yazdani HN & Koziol K. (2019). Plasma-modified graphene for improved interfacial bonding of epoxy adhesives for the aerospace and automotive structures
- Rahatekar S, Chen J, Hazra K, Lekawa A & Koziol K. (2019). Directly spun, aligned carbon nanotubes and carbon fibre epoxy-based hybrid composites for the potential applications in aerospace engineering
- Bhardwaj J, Richardson R, Li J & Rahatekar S. (2017). Manufacturing strong regenerated cellulose fibers reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals
- Wanasekara N, Zhu C, Eichhorn S, Rahatekar S, Welton T, .... (2016). Molecular deformation in high performance cellulose fibres
- Vincent SR, Prado R, Koutsomitopoulou A, Potter K, Eichhorn S, .... (2016). Fibre spinning of lingo-cellulose biomass using ionic liquids
- Rahatekar S, Zhu C, Eichhorn S, Wanasekara N, Kuzmina O, .... (2016). Manufacturing strong regenerated cellulose nano-composite fibres
- Stanier DC, Rahatekar S & Ciambella J. (2015). Modeling nonlinear viscoelastic behavior of elastomers using a micromechanically motivated rate-dependent approach for relaxation times involved in integral-based models
- Eichhorn S, Rahatekar S, Welton T, Potter K, Bismarck A, .... (2015). Revisiting regenerated cellulose fibers
- Trevarthen J, Janas D, Wisnom M, Rahatekar S & Koziol K. (2014). Interfacial characterisation and optimisation of carbon nanotube fibres
- Zhu C, Chen J, Gilman JW, Trulove PC, Krzysztof K, .... (2013). Fiber spinning and characterization of cellulose and chitin nanocomposite fibers
- Koukoulas T, Broughton WR, Williams J & Rahatekar SS. (2013). Optical characterisation of polymeric nanocomposites using tomographic, spectroscopic and Fraunhofer wavefront assessment
- Stanier DC, Ciambella J, Rahatekar S, Patil AJ & Mann S. (2013). The reinforcement effects of graphene oxide nanoplatelets on the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of natural rubber
- Williams J & Rahatekar SS. (2013). Plasma treated carbon nanotube coatings on the fracture toughness of glass prepregs
- Stanier DC, Ciambella J, Rahatekar S, Patil AJ & Mann S. (2013). Reinforcement and vulcanization Discriminating reinforcement and strain amplification effects in reinforced natural rubber elastomers
- Rahatekar SS, Zhu CC, Koziol KK, Zammarano M, Rashid A, .... (2012). Cellulose and chitin nanocomposites based electrically conducting textile fibres and films
- Rahatekar SS, Singh N, Koziol K, Patil A, Mann S, .... (2012). Cellulose based scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering
- Zhu C, Patil A, Koziol K, Mann S & Rahatekar SS. (2011). Manufacturing of natural polymers fibers
- Russ M, Rahatekar S, Koziol K, Peng HX & Farmer B. (2011). Development of carbon nanotube/epoxy nanocomposites for lightning strike protection
- Singh N, Rahatekar SS, Patil A, Ng S, Mann S, .... (2011). Natural polymers, blends and nanocomposites for the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC)
- Gilman JW, Zammarano M, Kim YS, Maupin P, Rahatekar S, .... (2010). Sustainable polymers, nanoadditives and nanocomposites
- Nyden MR & Rahatekar SS. (2009). Recent developments in modeling the dispersion and agglomeration of carbon nanotubes in polymers
- Rahatekar SS, Rasheed A, Jain R, Zammarano M, Koziol KK, .... (2009). Processing of natural fibers nanocomposites using ionic liquids
- Trulove PC, Reichert WM, De Long HC, Kline S, Rahatekar S, .... (2009). The Structure and Dynamics of Silk and Cellulose Dissolved in Ionic Liquids
- Zammarano M, Krämer R, Harris R, Ohlemiller TJ, Shields JR, .... (2007). Flexible polyurethane foams nanocomposites
- Rahatekar SS, Shaffer MSP & Elliott JA. (2006). Electrical Percolation in Carbon Nanotube Dispersions: A Mesoscale Modeling and Experimental Study
- Rahatekar SS, Hamm M, Shaffer MSP & Elliott JA. (2003). Achieving electrical percolation in polymer-carbon nanotube composites
- Lackey E, Chaware R, Inamdar K, Patil V, Rahatekar S, .... (2000). Experimental examination of photoinitiated resins used in filament winding
Books
- Badruddin IJ, Rahatekar SS & Tiwari S. (2024). Short and Micro Cellulose-Based Environmentally Friendly Polymer Composites In Materials Horizons: From Nature to Nanomaterials (Part F2604). Springer Nature Singapore.
- Zhu C, Richardson RM, Song Y & Rahatekar SS. (2018). One Step Dissolution, Extrusion, and Fiber Spinning of Chitin Using Ionic Liquid Solvents In Polysaccharide-based Fibers and Composites. Springer International Publishing.
