Multifunctionality of Polymer Composites: Challenges and Applications, Edition 2

Prof. Breuer is Scientific Director at the Leibniz Institute for Composite Materials (IVW), Germany. After studying mechanical engineering and completing his doctorate on thermoplastic processing technology of composite materials in 1997 at Kaiserslautern, he has worked for 13 years in various positions at Airbus in structural technology on the development of advanced wings, high-lift structures and fuselage structures made of composite materials. In 2010 he joined the IVW where he has been leading the Institute of Composite Materials. Prof. Breuer is head of the specialist division "Materials and Manufacturing Technology" in the German Aerospace Society, and his research interests include composite aircraft structures, function-integrated high-performance composites, and forming of organo sheets.

Dr Wetzel is a Scientific Director at the Leibniz-Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe (IVW), Germany. He has studied mechanical engineering with major focus on materials, damage theory and energy systems at the University of Karlsruhe. After conducting his Diploma Thesis at the California Institute of Technology, USA, he graduated in 1999. he also conducted research in China and received his doctorate degree from the University of Kaiserslautern in 2006. Dr Wetzel currently manages the "Tailored Thermosets & Biomaterials" group at the IVW, and his research interests include multifunctional thermosets, nanocomposites, tribology, fracture mechanics, and structure-property relationships.

Dr Gurka is a material scientist with profound experience in multifunctional materials, holding several patents. He studied physics at the University of Heidelberg and received his PhD in 1998. After working for several years in industry on the development of multifunctional materials, systems and associated production processes, he joined the Leibniz Institute for Composite Materials (IVW), Germany, in 2010 and heads the " Smart Composites & Nondestructive Testing " group. Dr Gurka is deputy head of the materials science department. His research interests include multifunctional composite materials, material-integrated actuators and sensors, and non-destructive materials testing.