Research groups and areas
Research groups
Research in the Department is organised into 4 research groups:
Energy Materials
Energy Materials is a strategic research area, and the group are addressing key challenges, particularly in the area of lifetime extension for conventional power plants, and high temperature materials for more efficient power generation.
Advanced Ceramics
The Group focus on processing, properties and characterisation of engineering ceramic materials. Projects include ultra high temperature heat shielding, ceramic braking systems and improved ceramic/nanoceramic processing techniques.
Surface Engineering
Many of the important properties of materials are dependent on their surface structure and chemistry. The group are particularly concerned with techniques to modify surfaces to increase their performance within processing and in service.
Advanced Polymers
Largest and probably broadest research group in the department. Ranging from polymerisation processes through formulation and additive development to manufacturing and recycling technologies.
Research areas
In addition to our research groups many inter-disciplinary projects and topics of particular emphasis are underpinned by the academic expertise of our staff across a number of research areas:
Sustainability
Research expertise in Materials’ selection, replacement, processing, application and modification, is helping to solve many sustainability issues, including; reduced emissions, recycling and re-use, and replacing toxic components
Nanomaterials
Nanotechnology has the potential to create many new materials and devices with wide-ranging applications. Our research group mainly focuses on synthesis, characterization and applications of nanomaterials.
Microstructural Characterisation
Microstructural characterisation covers a number of key microscopy based analytical processes. Here our team use the world class facilities of our LMCC combined with their expertise and continue to push the boundaries of these techniques
Corrosion and Degradation
Corrosion and degradation are key failure mechanisms. Our research reflects a material-wide understanding and combating of the major causes from electrochemical reactions to high temperature oxidation and aggressive environments.