Master Thesis (d/f/m) Investigation of Flammability Indices Correlations between Microscale Combustion Calorimeter and Standardized Aircraft Test Methods

Job Description:

In order to support the Fire Safety Engineering & Testing department, Airbus Defence and Space is looking for a

Master Student (d/f/m) Investigation of Flammability Indices Correlations between Microscale Combustion Calorimeter (MCC) and Standardized Aircraft Test Methods

You are looking for a master thesis and want to get to know the work of Airbus? Then apply now! We look forward to you supporting us in the Fire Safety Engineering & Testing department as a Master thesis student (d/f/m)!

• Location: Bremen
  
• Start: October 2026
  
• Duration: 6 months
  

Background

Evaluating material flammability and heat release in the aviation industry traditionally relies on established, macroscopic standardized test methods. However, addressing material obsolescence or minor formulation changes using these methods can be highly resource-intensive and logistically challenging. To address this, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and aviation research groups have been actively investigating the use of the Microscale Combustion Calorimeter (MCC). Operating at the milligram scale, the MCC is envisioned as a potential screening tool to streamline material obsolescence evaluations.

A key hurdle in implementing the MCC for these scenarios is understanding how small-scale thermal decomposition data relates to standard macroscopic flammability benchmarks. It is critical to determine under what combustion regimes and for what material types these methods correlate, as well as where the physical limitations of the small-scale tool lie. This project focuses on evaluating the feasibility of establishing these correlations to understand how and if such a methodology can be effectively implemented for future material screening.