Functional Materials and Coatings

Our capabilities here support the manufacture and incorporation of nanoparticles and assess their suitability, behaviour and scale-up for many engineering applications such as:

• Speciality chemicals - scale-up and scale-out for flexible/distributed manufacture
• Aircraft landing gear - controlling friction during the life of nano-coated sliding components
• Offshore wind turbines – elastomer sealing materials for extending maintenance periods
• Biohazard sensors – design of micro-fluidics for lab-on-chip devices
• Engine lubrication system – stabilised nanoparticles in additive packages
• Healthcare – tribology and wear in implants/prosthetics with nano-coatings

Research and Testing

• Fluid/material compatibility and characterisation
• Characterising the mechanical and chemical behaviour of materials and coatings
• Single and multiphase fluid flow, transportation, pumping and separation
• Rheology of complex fluids and nanoparticles
• Chemical reaction and reaction engineering
• Manufacture and dispersion of fine particles

Design, Modelling and Product Development

•  Mechanical and chemical lifetime prediction of rubber-like materials
• Permeation and diffusion modelling in polymers and rubber-like materials
• Characterisation and modelling the tribological properties of polymer and rubber-like materials
• Process intensification technology
• Batch, in-line and continuous mixing, and mass transfer
• Pilot plant scale-up and scale-out rules