Featured research in polymer science

Staff at the Polymer Centre conduct research into every aspect of polymer science, from synthesis of novel polymeric materials through to applications in the consumer, health care, textiles, aerospace and other industries.

Research at the frontiers of this practical and dynamic field requires a great deal of skill and commitment, but it is also very exciting! Below you will find links to features describing a few of our members' projects:

Wonderland - what happens when art meets science? A dynamic collaboration that combines the worlds of art, fashion and chemistry to create solutions to global environmental dilemmas.

Watching paint dry, a presentation prepared for the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 2002

Time Resolved Anisotropy Measurements (TRAMS) - a technique that allows us to follow the movement of polymer chains.

Polymer supported Nickel (II) catalysts - environmentally friendly catalysts with the versitility of advanced homogeneous catalytic systems.

Chemical Force Microscopy - allows us to look at the surfaces of materials with nano-metre precision.

A Polymer Nano-Pump - driven by pH changes in the surrounding solution

Ab Initio Cationic Polymerisation - a new polymerisation method for preparing oligomers with controlled molecular weight distributions.

Designing plastics that will not burn - new synthetic fibres and fillings with improved fire safety.

New Lithium Ion Conductors - batteries that last are the enabling technology behind mobile phones and electronic devices!

Polarised Electro-luminescent Polymers - new materials for use as backlights for liquid crystal displays.

Using a spin coater to make patterned polymer surfaces - letting polymer physics fabricate patterns for digital storage media or microelectronic circuits.

Polymers in Action - revealing the hidden structure of polymers.

Composite Interface Engineering - making stronger composites by controlling how stress is transferred from the matrix to fibre reinforcements.

Ultrasound probe for tribology - an elegant method for evaluating polymer bearings in service.