Research themes
The research range of the Department encompasses the processing, properties and application of materials, maintained by a balanced portfolio combining fundamental and applied aspects. Our research is organised into eight main themes. Each has multimillion pound research funding, leading-edge activity, and an internationally leading staff profile. Below is a summary of the current themes in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, along with links to their individual webpages.
Biomaterials and Tissue EngineeringThis theme places a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary research in response to clinical need and is one of very few UK groups to deliver practical tissue engineering solutions through to clinic. |
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CeramicsCovering both functional and structural ceramics, this theme includes electroceramics such as piezoelectrics and microwave dielectrics, carbon based refractories, and bioceramics. |
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Glasses, Cements and Waste ImmobilisationThis theme combines the abilities of ceramicists, glass technologists, crystallographers, modellers and geologists working on fundamental issues from mechanical property relationships for silicate glass, cement hydration, colour production in glasses, through to immobilisation of radioactive (and other toxic) wastes. |
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MagneticsThis theme benefits from combining materials processing, characterisation and modelling. Topics covered include: simulation techniques for magnetic device design, magnetoresistance, nanowire logic and magnetostriction. |
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MetallurgyA unique interdisciplinary approach to research in physical and process metallurgy is used. The major focus is to develop physical understanding, combined with a unique hybrid methodology for prediction of microstructure as a function of process condition. Materials investigated include aerospace alloys, light metals and steel. |
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Nanomaterials and NanoengineeringThis theme uses the integration of different technologies to act as simultaneous real-time nanoscale 'eyes' and 'hands', including advanced nanorobotics, high-resolution ion/electron microscopy, image processing/vision control and sophisticated sensors. In addition modelling is combined to develop new multiscale methods for simulating nanostructures and biomaterials. |
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Polymers and CompositesResearch in this theme covers three main areas; semicrystalline polymers, polymer fibre composites and polymer nanocomposites. For semicrystalline polymers there is a focus on developing new methods of mesoscale crystallography and the use of theoretical modelling to interpret morphology at a molecular structure level. For polymer fibre composites, there is a focus on self-healing composites, interface/interphase properties of composites and multiscale modelling of composites. For polymer nanocomposites, there is a focus on the structure-property relationships of polymer-clay nancomposites, polymer-graphene nanocomposites and polymer-cellulous nanocomposites. |
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Surface Engineering and TribologyIn this theme research is based around the use of novel environmentally friendly plasma-based surface engineering processes and the development of advanced nanostructured multi-functional coatings to meet future industrial surface coating and treatment needs, for wear, friction and corrosion control. |
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