Dr. Francis Avilés Cetina

Investigating the property-structure

relationship of multi-scale polymer composites,

with particular interest on carbon nanostructures

About me

RESEARCH SCIENTIST

Scientific Research Center of Yucatan (CICY)
Scientific Researcher
Materials Department
Phone: (52) 999 942-83-30 ext 388
Email: faviles@cicy.mx

CURRENT RESEARCH TOPICS

The approach followed by our research group is based on investigating the property-structure relationship of nano- and multi-scale polymer composite materials including chemical functionalization of nanostructures, composite fabrication, testing and modelling, with particular interest on carbon nanostructures. Mechanical, electrical, thermal, physico-chemical, piezoresistive, thermoresistive and other tests are conducted and predictive analytical and numerical models are developed to better understand the observed behaviour.
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Education

B.S., Mechanical Engineering

Merida Institute of Technology (ITM), Mérida, Yucatán, México, January 2000.

M.S., Applied Physics

Center for Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV), Mérida, Yucatán, México, August 2002.

Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering

Solid Body Mechanics and Materials, Florida Atlantic University (FAU), May 2005.

Post-Doctoral stay

Center for Composite Materials (CCM), University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.2005-2006.

Research Interests

Mechanics

  • Solid Body Mechanics and Mechanics of Materials.
  • Composites and Sandwich Structures.
  • Experimental Mechanics.
  • Finite Element Analysis.

Materials

  • Polymers and polymer composites
  • Carbon nanotubes
  • Nanostructures and nanocomposites
  • Smart materials
  • Electrical and sensoring properties of nanocomposites

Micro and Nanotechnology

  • Thin films, MEMS, NEMS and CNTs.

Physics

  • Solid State Physics.
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Publications

  • “Finite element investigation of the influence of porosity and resin infiltration on the electrical conductivity of carbon nanotube yarns”, F. Avilés, S. Cabañas-Valdovinos, A.I. Oliva-Avilés. Advanced Engineering Materials (Online ISSN:1527-2648, Print ISSN:1438-1656), Vol. 27, 2025, 2402714. https://doi.org/10.1002/adem.202402714.
  • “Electrical monitoring of structural health of multiscale hierarchical composites using fibers modified by graphenic sheets or carbon nanotubes”, G. Uribe-Riestra, J. Heredia-Lozano, M. Rivero-Ayala, J. Cauich-Cupul, F. Gamboa, F. Léonard, S. Diaham, Z. Valdez-Nava, A. Castillo-Atoche, F. Avilés. Composite Communications (Online ISSN: 2452-2139), Vol. 58, 2025, 102553 (11 pp). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coco.2025.102553.
  • “Electrical monitoring of structural health of laminated composites panels under compressive loading using carbon nanotube yarns”, C. Pérez-Aranda, M. Rivero-Ayala, C. Falla, F. Gamboa, F. Avilés. Composite Communications (Online ISSN: 2452-2139), Vol. 59, 2025, 102565 (10 pp). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coco.2025.102565.
  • “Effect of small concentrations of graphenic sheets on the dielectric strength of epoxy”, R. Pech-Pisté, A. Can-Ortiz, D. Mary, H. Carrillo-Escalante, Z. Valdéz-Nava, D. Malec, F. Avilés. Current Applied Physics (Print ISSN: 1567-1739, Online ISSN: 1878-1675), Vol. 83, 2026, 79-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cap.2025.11.012.
  • “Low-power system for spatial tactile detection using a self-sensing nanocomposite with on-device adaptive regularization”, J. Heredia-Lozano, A. Balam, J. Vázquez-Castillo, J.J. Estrada-López, Z. Valdez-Nava, V. Bley, C. Combettes, F. Avilés, A. Castillo-Atoche. IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas. (print ISSN: 0018-9456, online ISSN: 1557-9662).
  • “Structural health monitoring of carbon nanotube-modified glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites by electrical resistance measurements and digital image correlation”, G. Uribe-Riestra, P. Ayuso-Faber, M. Rivero-Ayala, J. Cauich-Cupul, F. Gamboa, F. Avilés. Structural Health Monitoring (ISSN: 14759217), Vol. 23(1), 2024, 555-567. https://doi.org/10.1177/14759217231173439.
  • “Structure-property relationships in the electrical conductivity of multilayer graphene sheet/epoxy nanocomposites”, H. Canché, A.I. Oliva-Avilés, A.I. Oliva, V. Sosa, D.E. Pacheco-Catalán, R.H. Cruz-Estrada, F. Avilés. Diamond and Related Materials (Online ISSN: 1879-0062; Print ISSN: 0925-9635), Vol. 141, 2024, 110582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diamond.2023.110582.
  • “Dynamic mechanical response of carbon nanotube yarns and their in situ electrical measurements”, C. Pérez-Aranda, H. Carrillo-Escalante, R. Pech-Pisté, F. Hernández-Sánchez, F. Avilés. The Journal of the Textile Institute (Print ISSN: 0040-5000, Online ISSN: 1754-2340). Vol. 115(1), 2024, 118-129. https://doi.org/10.1080/00405000.2023.2200298.
  • “Through-thickness tensile characterization and analysis of fiber-reinforced polymer composites using digital image correlation and finite element modeling”. P. Ayuso-Faber, G. Uribe-Riestra, G. Arana, F. Avilés. Polymer Composites (ISSN:1548-0569). Vol. 45(4), 2024, 3258-3271. http://doi.org/10.1002/pc.27988.
  • “Understanding the radial contraction and axial mechanical responses of carbon nanotube yarns under axial tensile loading”. C. Pérez-Aranda, E.K. Gamstedt, F. Avilés. Carbon (Online ISSN: 1873-3891, Print ISSN: 0008-6223). Vol. 225, 2024, 119092 (12 p). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2024.119092.
  • “Water absorption kinetics of palygorskyte nanoclay/polypropylene composite foams”. R.R. Pérez-Matú, F. Avilés, P.I. González-Chi. Polymer Bulletin (Print ISSN:0170-0839, Electronic ISSN: 1436-2449). Vol. 81, 2024, 4149-4174. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-023-04822-5.
  • “Mechanical, thermal and physicochemical properties of filaments of poly (lactic acid), polyhydroxyalkanoates and their blend for additive manufacturing”. L.I. Mondragón Herrera, R.F. Vargas-Coronado, H. Carrillo-Escalante, J.V. Cauich-Rodríguez, F. Hernández-Sánchez, C. Velasco-Santos, F. Avilés. Polymers (E-ISSN 2073-4360). Vol. 16(8), 2024, 1062 (19 p). https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16081062.
  • “Adhesion testing system based on convolutional neural networks for quality inspection of flexible strain sensors”. I. Isaac-Medina, G. Arana, A.C. Castillo-Atoche, J.J. Estrada-López, J. Vázquez-Castillo, F. Avilés, A.A. Castillo-Atoche. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics (Electronic ISSN: 1941-0050; Print ISSN: 1551-3203). Vol. 20 (7), 2024, 9235-9243. doi:10.1109/TII.2024.3383547.
  • “Electromechanical response of multilayer graphene sheet/polypropylene nanocomposites and its relationship with the graphene sheet physicochemical properties”. C. Medina, H. Canché, A.I. Oliva-Avilés, F. Avilés. Smart Materials and Structures (ISSN:0964-1726), E-ISSN:1361-665X). Vol. 33, 2024, 095039 (12 pp). https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-665X/ad70e5.
  • “Integration of carbon nanotube yarns into glass-fiber reinforced composites for electrical self-sensing of damage under cyclic bending and impact loading”. G. Uribe-Riestra, R. Pech-Pisté, F. Avilés. Polymer Composites (Online ISSN:1548-0569, Print ISSN:0272-8397). In-press.
  • “Prediction of elastic properties of woven polymer composites using micromechanical models and measured microstructural parameters”, F. López-Santos, A. Hernández-Pérez, E.R. Ledesma-Orozco, F. Avilés. Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites (ISSN:0731-6844, On-line: 1530-7964, web). In-press. https://doi.org/10.1177/07316844241273025.
  • “Thermoresistive properties of multilayer graphene sheet/polypropylene composites using four dissimilar fillers”, C. Medina, A. Balam, F. Avilés. Materials Today Communications (ISSN 2352-4928), Vol. 41, 2024, 110903 (11 pp). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2024.110903.
  • “Thermo-mechanical properties of carbon nanotube yarns with high energy dissipation capabilities”, C. Pérez-Aranda, R. Pech-Pisté, H.J. Carrillo-Escalante, G.C. Uribe-Riestra, F. Avilés. Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology (ISSN: 0094-4289, eISSN: 1528-8889), Vol. 145(1), 2023, 011005 (10 p). https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4055540.
  • “Improving adhesion between polyimide surface and carbon nanotube arrays for strain-sensing devices”, G. Arana, M.O. González-Díaz, A. Castillo-Atoche, F. Avilés. Materials Today Communications (ISSN 2352-4928), Vol. 34, 2023, 105008 (8 p). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2022.105008.
  • “A smart tactile sensing system based on carbon nanotube/polypropylene composites for wearable applications”, R. Atoche-Enseñat, E. Pérez, A. Hernández-Benítez, A. Balam, J.J. Estrada-López, J. Vázquez-Castillo, F. Avilés, A. Castillo-Atoche. IEEE Sensors Journal (ISSN:1530-437X), Vol. 23(3), 2023, 2948-2955. doi: 10.1109/JSEN.2022.322923.
  • “Piezoresistive and thermoresistive responses of carbon nanotube-based strain gauges with different grid geometric parameters”, G. Arana, F. Gamboa, F. Avilés. Sensors and Actuators: Part A (ISSN:0924-4247), Vol. 359, 2023, 114477 (11 p). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2023.114477.
  • “Effect of temperature on the electrical and electromechanical properties of carbon nanotube/polypropylene composites”, A. Balam, Z. Valdez-Nava, V. Bley, P. Ayuso-Faber, H. Carrillo-Escalante. Smart Materials and Structures (ISSN:0964-1726), Vol. 32(8), 2023, 085008 (13 p). https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-665X/acdf9f.
  • “Piezoimpedance of carbon nanotube yarns coupled with Raman spectroscopy and its implementation for sensing polymerization kinetics”, R. Pech-Pisté, C. Pérez-Aranda, A. Balam, R. Vargas-Coronado, J.V. Cauich-Rodríguez, F. Avilés. Carbon (ISSN:0008-6223), Vol. 213, 2023, 118246 (9 p). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2023.118246.
  • “Thermoresistivity of carbon nanostructures and their polymeric nanocomposites”, Review article. F. Avilés. Advanced Materials Interfaces (ISSN: 2196-7350), 2023, 2300218 (17 p). https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202300218.
  • “Design and analysis of a carbon nanotube‑based strain gauge via multiscale modeling”, G. Arana, A. Mora, I. Pérez, F. Avilés. Meccanica (Electronic ISSN:1572-9648; Print ISSN: 0025-6455), Vol. 58, 2023, 1717-1732. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11012-023-01689-8.
  • “Structural health monitoring of carbon nanotube-modified glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites by electrical resistance measurements and digital image correlation”, G. Uribe-Riestra, P. Ayuso-Faber, M. Rivero-Ayala, J. Cauich-Cupul, F. Gamboa, F. Avilés. Structural Health Monitoring (ISSN: 14759217), Vol. 23(1), 2024, 555-567. https://doi.org/10.1177/14759217231173439.
  • “Structure-property relationships in the electrical conductivity of multilayer graphene sheet/epoxy nanocomposites”, H. Canché, A.I. Oliva-Avilés, A.I. Oliva, V. Sosa, D.E. Pacheco-Catalán, R.H. Cruz-Estrada, F. Avilés. Diamond and Related Materials (Online ISSN: 1879-0062; Print ISSN: 0925-9635), Vol. 141, 2024, 110582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diamond.2023.110582.
  • “Through-thickness tensile characterization and analysis of fiber-reinforced polymer composites using digital image correlation and finite element modeling”. P. Ayuso-Faber, G. Uribe-Riestra, G. Arana, F. Avilés. Polymer Composites (ISSN:1548-0569). Printed online (December 2023). http://doi.org/10.1002/pc.27988.
  • “Water absorption kinetics of palygorskyte nanoclay/polypropylene composite foams”, R.R. Pérez-Matú, F. Avilés, P.I. González-Chi. Polymer Bulletin (Print ISSN:0170-0839, Electronic ISSN: 1436-2449). Printed online July 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-023-04822-5.
  • “Dynamic mechanical response of carbon nanotube yarns and their in situ electrical measurements”, C. Pérez-Aranda, H. Carrillo-Escalante, R. Pech-Pisté, F. Hernández-Sánchez, F. Avilés. The Journal of the Textile Institute (Print ISSN: 0040-5000, Online ISSN: 1754-2340). In press. https://doi.org/10.1080/00405000.2023.2200298.
List of publications. DOCX Format. Last update, January 07, 2026

Students and support

Gallery

Video clips of group's developments

By César Pérez

This video clip shows a segmented polyurethane tube subjected to internal pressure, while the strain is mapped by DIC and electrical measurements are conducted in situ.

By César Pérez

This video clip shows edgewise compression cyclic testing of a glass/vinyl ester panel containing an embedded carbon nanotube yarn for electrical monitoring of structural health

By Carlos Medina

This video clip demonstrates the use of a graphenic sheet/PP nanocomposite for its use to detect the motion of a human finger, through changes in its electrical resistance.

By Abraham Balam

This video clip shows the implementation of a MWCNT/PP membrane as a tactile sensing prototype

By Abraham Balam

The video clip demonstrates MWCNT/PP processing via a continuous (semi-industrial) extrusion process.

By Marco Cen

The video clip shows the application of carbon nanotube composites as thermistors for temperature sensing.

By Jesús Kú

The video clip shows an application of multiscale hierarchical composites, where carbon nanotubes have been bonded to the surface of (electrically isolating) glass fibers to turn them electro-conductive. This feature is then exploited to sense strain and damage in multiscale hierarchical composites.

By Gabriel Arana

The video clip shows manufacturing of a carbon nanotube strain gage via CNC machining.