Dr. J. Patrick A. Fairclough

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Fairclough obtained a BSc in Physics from the University of Birmingham in 1990, which was followed by a PhD from the same institution in 1994. From 1994-1997 he was a Postdoctoral Researcher at UMIST. In 1997 he became a Lecturer at the University in Sheffield, where he is currently a Reader.

Research Keywords

Self-assembly, Small Angle X-ray Scattering,(SAXS) Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS), Block Copolymers, Non-ionic surfactants, Polymers and macromolecules, Gas diffusion in polymer films. High Throughput methodologies and metrology, Quasi-elastic Neutron scattering (QENS)

Teaching Keywords

Physical Chemistry

Selected Publications:

Time-Resolved Small-Angle X-ray Scattering Studies of Polymer-Silica Nanocomposite Particles: Initial Formation and Subsequent Silica Redistribution, Jennifer A. Balmer, Oleksandr O. Mykhaylyk, Steven P. Armes, J. Patrick A. Fairclough, Anthony J. Ryan, Jeremie Gummel, Martin W. Murray, Kenneth A. Murray and Neal S. J. Wiliams, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 826-837.
Shear ordered diblock copolymers with tuneable optical properties, Andrew J. Parnell, Nadejda Tzokova, Andrew Pryke, Jonathan R. Howse, Oleksandr O. Mykhaylyk, Anthony J. Ryan, Pierre Panine and J. Patrick A. Fairclough, PCCP 2011, 13, 3179-3186.
Continuously tuneable optical filters from self-assembled block copolymer blends, Andrew J. Parnell, Andrew Pryke, Oleksandr O. Mykhaylyk, Jonathan R. Howse, Ali M. Adawi, Nicholas J. Terrill and J. Patrick A. Fairclough, Soft Matter 2011, 7, 3721-3725.
Using Multimodal Blends to Elucidate the Mechanism of Flow-Induced Crystallization in Polymers, Masayuki Okura, Pierre Chambon, Oleksandr O. Mykhaylyk, J. Patrick A. Fairclough and Anthony J. Ryan, Journal of Polymer Science Part B-Polymer Physics 2011, 49, 621-628.
Unexpected Facile Redistribution of Adsorbed Silica Nanoparticles Between Latexes, J. A. Balmer, O. O. Mykhaylyk, J. P. A. Fairclough, A. J. Ryan, S. P. Armes, M. W. Murray, K. A. Murray and N. S. J. Williams, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 2166–2168.
Control of Structural Morphology in Shear-Induced Crystallization of Polymers, O. O. Mykhaylyk, P. Chambon, C. Impradice, J. P. A. Fairclough, N. J. Terrill and A. J. Ryan, Macromolecules 2010, 43, 2389-2405.
Influence of Ultra-High Pressure Sterilization on the Structure of Polymer Films, J. P. A. Fairclough and M. Conti, Packag Technol Sci 2009, 22, 303-310.
Toughening by nanostructure, L. Ruiz-Perez, G. J. Royston, J. P. A. Fairclough and A. J. Ryan, Polymer 2008, 49, 4475-4488.
The specific work of flow as a criterion for orientation in polymer crystallization, O. O. Mykhaylyk, P. Chambon, R. S. Graham, J. P. A. Fairclough, P. D. Olmsted and A. J. Ryan, Macromolecules 2008, 41, 1901-1904.
Segmented polyimides with poly(ethylene oxide) blocks exhibiting liquid crystallinity, G. Costa, G. C. Eastmond, J. P. A. Fairclough, J. Paprotny, A. J. Ryan and P. Stagnaro, Macromolecules 2008, 41, 1034-1040.

Research Interests

Our research focuses on interactions and association within polymeric materials. We have considerable experience in the study of ordered systems. This covers both well ordered systems such as block copolymers to weakly ordered systems such as polymer networks and gels. We are continuing to develop methods for structure determination in polymeric materials. We are well equipped to study structured materials by birefringence microscopy, small angle laser light scattering (SALS), dynamic and static light scattering, SAXS and WAXS. In addition we have a wide range of spectroscopic techniques such as IR microscopy, UV/Vis spectroscopy and a suite of rheometers. For surface structural characterisation, we have X-ray reflectivity, AFM and ellipsometry, in collaboration with the Physics department. We also have our own purpose built (quart crystal microbalance) QCM with humidity control. With a wide range of techniques available it is natural that we cover a wide range of problems.

Christine and I have just received funding to investigate the effects of Polydispersity on the formation of order phases is block copolymers. This is in collaboration with Dr Perrier in Sydney Australia (it was Leeds) and Prof Matsen in Reading. This currently funds a postdoc and a PhD student. This is the more ordered end of our work.
Amie is a shared student with Prof Mike Williamson in MBB, she is working on astringency and its link with the collapse of salivary proteins in the mouth. This is towards the weakly ordered side of my research.

In collaboration with Prof Ryan we have three analytical studentship working on variety of topics related to the interactions between water and polymeric systems. I have quite a few industrially sponsored projects, which unfortunately means I can´t put much on the web about them, least not yet. These systems form networks and gels, these systems are structured but the ordering in them is not particularly regular. These are challenging systems to study not least because no two molecules in the system are the same.

I also work on the large MuPP II project, http://www1.irc.leeds.ac.uk/mupp2/ which looks at understanding how stretching a polymer makes it more likely to crystallise and solidify. This moves across the range of structure and ordering. It covers how a system transforms from a disordered to an ordered system.

New Research Topics

Currently I´m dabbling in QENS to look at what happens to polymer chains when they are confined by other chains. I have a visiting scientist from Spain working on this.

Teaching Section