Don't miss our weekly PhD newsletter | Sign up now Don't miss our weekly PhD newsletter | Sign up now

  Characterisation of the physics of photopolymer curing and formulation effects of highly filled slurries during additive ceramic core manufacture


   School of Chemical Engineering

   Applications accepted all year round  Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

About the Project

Do you want to work at the cutting edge of Aerospace manufacturing technology? Are you interested in Additive Manufacturing? Do you want to work as part of a cross-functional team making aircraft propulsion systems more efficient and sustainable for the future of air travel? Join our internationally unique collaboration between the University of Birmingham and Rolls-Royce at the High Temperature Research Centre (HTRC) located in Ansty Business Park.

The team comprises ~100 personnel including Rolls-Royce Design and Manufacturing Engineers, University of Birmingham Academics, Research Fellows, and Students. The facility boasts a world leading laboratory for advanced material and formulation characterisation as well as a process line that mirrors Rolls-Royce’s production investment casting capability. This enables us to deliver robust solutions across key areas: supporting experimental engine demonstrators, manufacturing technology development, and fundamental research that aids both future technology and domestic manufacturing improvements. Additionally, the facility houses a production-scale ceramic additive manufacturing line.

Applicants are invited to apply to undertake an industrial CASE PhD programme to address the “Characterisation of the physics of photopolymer curing and formulation effects of highly filled slurries during additive ceramic core manufacture”. The PhD programme forms part of the centre for doctoral training in formulation engineering in the School of Chemical Engineering. The successful candidate will work as part of a cross-functional team dedicated to developing future design concepts to create a step change in turbine component cooling performance.

Training will be provided in selecting methods and using laboratory equipment for material and process characterisation. You will be trained in the HTRC quality system for initiating and managing larger experiments, and in the manufacturing of investment castings through the Rolls-Royce casting academy. Recent research has shown the key role that ultraviolet curing of highly filled ceramic slurries plays in achieving fine features and tight dimensional tolerances to produce complex future component designs.

You will develop a mechanistic understanding of how the formulation affects fine feature formation, to produce defect free parts in more advanced designs, and to produce dimensionally consistent ceramic cores that remain stable during casting. You will develop novel laboratory procedures to characterize the curing process and use these to investigate formulation and process parameters. You will develop experimental methods and modelling techniques to evaluate the effects of formulation on material properties, as well as on how this impacts residual stress development and anisotropy during component build, de-bind and sintering.

Drawing links between the formulation, microstructure, and processing of the existing additive manufacturing process at the HTRC, you will contribute to the scientific community by delivering conference and journal publications using non-IP sensitive model systems. You will optimize the ceramic-chemistry and binder-system characteristics of the current formulations to produce complex designs for enhanced cooling systems enabling the next generation of Rolls-Royce engines.

To apply please email your CV to .

Chemistry (6) Engineering (12) Materials Science (24)

Funding Notes

The successful applicant will get a tax-free bursary of £25,737. To be eligible, candidates must have at least a 2(1) in an Engineering or Scientific discipline or a 2(2) plus MSc. Tuition fees are covered for UK home students. Due to the nature of work the HTRC conducts, and the protection of certain assets, candidates must willing to apply for and able to obtain BPSS clearance & be UK nationals or from non-ITAR sanctioned countries. Holders of US Citizenship, US Residency Permits, US leave to stay or current or previous US Green Card holders cannot be considered for the position.


Open Days


Register your interest for this project



How good is research at University of Birmingham in Engineering?


Research output data provided by the Research Excellence Framework (REF)

Click here to see the results for all UK universities