Projects
Projects: Custom Search |
||
| Reference Number | EP/Z002532/1 | |
| Title | Autonomous Reactors for Accelerating the route from Bench-to-Shelf for Sustainable High-Value Polymer Materials | |
| Status | Started | |
| Energy Categories | Renewable Energy Sources (Solar Energy, Photovoltaics) 15%; Not Energy Related 70%; Other Power and Storage Technologies (Energy storage) 15%; |
|
| Research Types | Basic and strategic applied research 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry) 20%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 80%; |
|
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Dr N J Warren University of Sheffield |
|
| Award Type | Standard | |
| Funding Source | EPSRC | |
| Start Date | 01 June 2025 | |
| End Date | 30 November 2026 | |
| Duration | 18 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £258,134 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Manufacturing | |
| Region | Yorkshire & Humberside | |
| Programme | Manufacturing and the Circular Economy | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Dr N J Warren , University of Sheffield |
| Other Investigator | Dr RA Bourne , Chemical and Process Engineerin, University of Leeds Dr N Kapur , Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds |
|
| Industrial Collaborator | Project Contact , Infineum UK Ltd Project Contact , Infineum UK Ltd Project Contact , Synthomer Ltd Project Contact , Synthomer Ltd |
|
| Web Site | ||
| Objectives | ||
| Abstract | Polymers play a vital role in our daily lives and we continuously encounter polymers that are specifically designed and optimised for optimal performance. They are present in various aspects of our lives, such as clothing, computer displays, and medical technologies. However, in order to maintain a sustainable and healthy society, we need advanced solutions that offer higher performance and new capability that are affordable. They could also pave the way for innovative materials that open doors to new medicines, advanced lubricants, organic photovoltaics, and lithium battery matrix technologies. Living anionic polymerisation is a highly precise chemical synthesis technique that can be used to make these polymers, allowing for an array of molecular architectures. However, there is a lack of efficient methods to quickly screen polymers synthesised using this technique. Currently, it is only carried out in specialised laboratories equipped with the necessary infrastructure and skilled personnel to meet the rigorous experimental conditions. Due to this, scientists will make only one or two batches of material per week meaning rapid prototyping is impossible. Here, we will develop a platform technology which facilitates synthesis of polymers by LAP using an automated reactor platform which can maintain precise conditions with minimal human input. By equipping this instrumentation with machine learning capability, we will demonstrate an ability to rapidly screen polymers and demonstrate the ability to scale-up whilst maintaining the precision required. This technology will precipitate an array of opportunities for developing new sustainable materials which can contribute to solving challenges facing society | |
| Data | No related datasets |
|
| Projects | No related projects |
|
| Publications | No related publications |
|
| Added to Database | 29/10/25 | |
