Research in materials for defense aims to develop advanced materials and technologies tailored for military and civil applications, with goals including improving equipment performance, reducing weight and size, enhancing durability and reliability in harsh environments, enabling stealth and camouflage, ensuring protection through armor and gear, increasing energy efficiency, advancing propulsion and electronics, addressing chemical and biological threats, leveraging additive manufacturing, promoting environmental sustainability, countering emerging threats, strengthening supply chain resilience, and fostering dual-use technologies. This specialized research plays a crucial role in enhancing defense capabilities, safeguarding personnel, and maintaining a technological edge in defense operations, often requiring collaboration with diverse stakeholders, from academia to industry.
Defense is intricately linked to various domains, including space exploration, aeronautics, and broader security activities. In the context of space, cutting-edge materials are vital for spacecraft design, where lightweight and durable materials can reduce launch costs and ensure the integrity of space systems exposed to extreme conditions. Similarly, aeronautics relies on advanced materials to enhance aircraft performance, fuel efficiency, and safety. In the realm of security activities, these materials play a critical role in the development of surveillance and reconnaissance equipment, secure communication technologies, and border control systems. Moreover, the cross-pollination of materials research between defense and civilian sectors fosters technological innovation, contributing to economic growth and national resilience by addressing both military and civilian needs, reinforcing the interconnectedness of materials science with defense, space, aeronautics, and security endeavors.
AuxDefense 2024 – World Conference on Advanced Materials for Defense – Beyond Boundaries aims to be the meeting point for everyone interested in these outstanding advanced materials, including researchers, technicians, technologists, militaries, and students.
Important dates
Conference Topics
- Active Materials
- Auxetic Materials
- Blast Protection
- Camouflage
- Chameleonic Materials
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Detection/Protection
- Composite Materials
- Energy Harvesting and Storage
- Energy and Impact Absorption
- Fibers and fibrous materials
- Meta Materials
- Monitoring and Sensor Systems
- Nanomaterials and Nanostructures
- Self-healing Materials
- Smart Materials and Structures
- Textiles
- Thermoregulation
- Structural Materials
- Ceramics
Air Domain
Improved Modelling of failure and damage propagation;
Materials for additive manufacturing;
High temperatures composites for missiles and jet engines;
Integration of Structural Health Monitoring Systems.
Naval Domain
Monitoring of signature;
New armored solutions;
Repair by additive manufacturing;
Structural health monitoring of structures;
Lightweight Structure / New design concept for deck with metallic solutions.
Land Domain
New lighter protections;
New protection capability with lightweight structures;
New lighter protection for soldiers.
Cross-cutting domain
Novel manufacturing processes, automated layer up, and in-situ process verification;
Multifunctional materials for dynamic, multispectral camouflage;
Self-indicating materials;
Structural health monitoring and verification of manufacturing processes;
or Smart textiles to collect, analyze, and transmit information, to protect and reduce heat stress.
Space Domain
Space Habitat Construction
Space Suits and Protective Gear
Propulsion Systems:
In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)
Radiation Protection
Additive Manufacturing
Space Debris Mitigation
Space Agriculture
Space Tourism
Space-Based Manufacturing
Space Elevator
Source: EDA – European Defense Agency
