
Dr Mihalis Kazilas
Reader & Director of BCC
Summary
Dr Mihalis Kazilas is the Director of the Brunel Composites Centre. He has more than 20 years of experience in the composites processing area. He received his PhD in Advanced Materials from Cranfield University back in 2003. His main field of expertise are polymers characterisation and polymer composites manufacturing and joining processes. He is author of several refereed scientific publications in the area of advanced composites manufacturing and process optimisation. Mihalis is a creative thinker who enjoys problem solving and able to work with different stakeholders to achieve the optimum results in both technical and managerial environments.
Work experience:
- Sep 2019 – present: Business Group Manager, Polymer and Composite Technologies, TWI, UK
- June 2019 – present: Director of the Non-Metallics Innovation Centre, a joint initiative between TWI, Saudi Aramco and ADNOC
- Oct 2016 – present: Centre Director, Brunel Composites Innovation Centre, Brunel University London, UK
- Feb 2012 – 2019: Section Manager, Adhesives, Composites and Sealants (ACS) section within the Joining Process Group at TWI, UK
- May 2006 – Jan 2012: R&D Consultant, Project Engineer, Collaborative Projects Operations Manager at INASCO, Greece
Qualifications
PhD in advanced materials
Responsibility
Director of the Brunel Composites Centre (BCC)
Centre Description: Innovation Centre established in September 2016 by TWI and Brunel University.
Centre vision: Become an internationally renowned centre for composites joining and interfacial phenomena involving composites
Centre mission and technology remit:
- Study physicochemical phenomena that take place at the interface of composite materials
- Create solutions for better processing and joining of composites
- De-risk innovation in composites for quick industrial application
Newest selected publications
Gaitanelis, D., Worrall, C. and Kazilas, M. (2025) 'On preventing thermal damage in high-temperature joining applications of thermoplastic composites with metals'. Composites Part B: Engineering, 0 (in press, pre-proof). pp. 1 - 26. ISSN: 1359-8368 Open Access Link
Gaitanelis, D., Worrall, C. and Kazilas, M. (2024) 'Influence of rapid high-temperature processing on the interface of CF/PEEK, a quick and effective method for enhancing the IFSS'. Composites Science and Technology, 251. pp. 1 - 11. ISSN: 0266-3538 Open Access Link
Gaitanelis, D., Worrall, C. and Kazilas, M. (2023) 'A numerical model to prevent the thermal degradation of CFRPs at extreme heating rates – The laser processing of CF/PEEK'. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 177 (February 2024). pp. 1 - 13. ISSN: 1359-835X Open Access Link
Gaitanelis, D., Chanteli, A., Worrall, C., Weaver, PM. and Kazilas, M. (2023) 'A multi-technique and multi-scale analysis of the thermal degradation of PEEK in laser heating'. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 211. pp. 1 - 12. ISSN: 0141-3910 Open Access Link
Gaitanelis, D., Worrall, C. and Kazilas, M. (2022) 'Detecting, characterising and assessing PEEK’s and CF-PEEK’s thermal degradation in rapid high-temperature processing'. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 204. pp. 1 - 14. ISSN: 0141-3910 Open Access Link