Университет Астон, PhD, Polymers

Current research interests include: Synthesis of polymers with control of molecular architecture by catalyst system modification; ring opening polymerisation; ferro magnetic polymer synthesis; antioxidants and stabilisers for metallocene polymers during melt processing; vitamin E as biological antioxidant for polymers targeted for human-contact applications; photostabilisation and durability of polymers and antioxidant mechanisms; oxidation and stabilisation of oils, proteins and starches; blends and polymer modification by reactive processing; evaluation of service performance and durability of new waterborne automotive coatings; speciality additives in polyethylene terephthalate for food packaging applications; synthesis and characterisation of additives and their mechanisms of action in polymers; recycling and upgrading the performance of post-consumer waste plastics; degradable polymers: mechanistic role of additives during melt processing of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol-based polymers; biodegradable polymers: synthesis of novel plasticisers and property modifiers for biodegradable packaging materials; measurements of the electro-optic Kerr effects of polymers to investigate the interrelation between their stereo-structure and conformational behaviour.

Upper 2nd Class degree in chemistry, chemical engineering or materials science required.

The research activities of the group is carried out by two Research Units, the ‘Polymer Synthesis Research Unit’, and the ‘Polymer Processing and Performance (PPP) Research Unit’ covering basic and applied research at different stages of polymers lifecycle; from polymer synthesis to polymer processing and the role of speciality additives, through to polymer performance in-service during 1st and subsequent lives.