Program One: HIGH VALUE MANUFACTURING

New materials and processing for high-value polymer manufacturing

Polymers in Supercritical Fluids:

• Fundamental polymer properties in supercritical fluids

• Biodegradable polymer foams

• Modelling foam rupture of silicone foams

Reactive polymers:

• The rheology and modelling of reactive thermoset polymers for computer chip packaging

• Epoxy nanocomposites

• Surface modification of polymer coatings

• Upgrading performance of polymers via radiation modification

• Developing tough epoxy - hyperbranched polymer composites

Polymer processing:

• Rotational molding of polyurethanes and PE nanocomposites

• Processing of biodegradable films

• Processing of biodegradable pot plants

• Molecular modelling of reactive polymers

• Flow simulation of polymer processing

• Food and gel rheology and processing

• Control during polymer processing using in-situ ultrasonic techniques
  
  

New techniques in polymer analysis:

• Novel dual mode experimental techniques [rheo-NMR, FTIR-rheo, IR-ESR, rheo-optics] for monitoring chemical and physical properties of polymers during synthesis, processing or manufacture

• stress analysis using numerical techniques

Program Two: BIOPOLYMERS

New materials and processes for biopolymers

Polymers for pharmaceutical applications and drug delivery:

• Radiation (or other) grafting of functional groups onto polymer surfaces for use in combinatorial chemistry, drug design and delivery

• Processing of matrix polymers for combinatorial chemistry & drug design

• Hydrogel polymers for drug delivery and contact lenses

• Polymer encapsulants for pesticide delivery

Polymer applications in dentistry:

• Evaluation of retention and wear in composite resin restorations

• Penetration of resin fissure sealants into tooth surfaces

• Resin Adhesion to tooth structure after carbon dioxide laser etching

• Debonding of resin orthodontic bracket adhesives using laser energy

• Argon laser and trans-dental anisotropic curing of composite resin materials

• Evaluation of LED-based curing systems and optimization of current resin photopolymerisation systems

• Tissue engineering for the periodontium

• A cell and polymer based composite scaffold for bone tissue regeneration

Polymer applications in medicine and surgery:

• Design of polymer tubing for use as substrate for vascular artery repair

• Biomedical polyurethane nanocomposites for implants

• Understanding interfacial interactions of polymers with other materials, including biological tissue

Program Three: POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES

Design, processing and performance of polymer nanocomposites

Polyurethane nanocomposites:

• Polyurethane (PU) nanocomposites for biomedical applications

• Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) nanocomposite fibres

Polyethylene nanocomposites:

• Developing polyethylene (PE) nanocomposites for rotational molding

• Understanding the rheology, morphology and thermodynamics of PE nanocomposites

• Reactive modification to polyolefins for polyolefin nanocomposites

Natural polymer nanocomposites:

• Developing composites of synthetic and naturally-occurring polymers

• Biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) blends

• Genetically modified model starch polymer biodegradable nanocomposites