Academic Supervisors: Primary: Prof Geraint Williams. Secondary: Dr Ian Mabbett
Industry Supervisor: Dr Sonny Ngo. Dr Susana Hult Torron
Aligned programme of study: EngD in Materials, Modelling and Manufacturing
Mode of study: Full-time
Expected Interview Date: March – April 2023
Dating back over 150 years, Beckers is a true pioneer in providing unique, high-quality solutions that answer coating needs across many sectors. Currently Beckers is proud to be the global leader in supply of coil coatings from 24 locations in 18 countries. With 20% of our personnel worldwide working in laboratories, 4% of our sales spent on R&D and 25% of our coatings being new products created in the last five years, we are proud to be considered an industry innovator and we will continue to explore smart and sustainable solutions.
Currently, the majority of Coil Coatings are applied to continuous wide metal strip and then thermally treated so as to induce gelation or crosslinking. Currently this heating is carried out using gas powered ovens which yield a high carbon footprint to the finished article. As part of Beckers ongoing commitment to increasing the sustainability of Coil Coatings, new methods of crosslinking that have significantly lower carbon footprints are being explored. One such method is to use UV or Electron Beam radiation (radcure) to initiate free radical polymerisation. As these new technologies are being introduced into the Coil Coating market, there is a requirement to make sure that the performance of the new systems is at the same level as current systems.
Project Aims:
The specific focus of the doctorate will be to take a polyester melamine based, thermally cured standard system, and urethane acrylate based, radcure system; these systems will be applied to galvanised steel and the corrosion protection of the two systems will be evaluated. As part of the evaluation, accelerated testing will be compared to real world exposure data.
Desired outcomes:
Using a variety of analytical techniques including (but not limited to) SVET, SKP, EIS, Raman or IR spectroscopy, the candidate will fully characterise the corrosion products of radcure systems and identify the mechanisms by which they are produced. This information can then be used to ensure that coating formulations used will support optimum corrosion protection.
Working locations:
The student will be based at Swansea university with occasional laboratory work & meetings being carried out at Beckers, as required.
Sponsor Company: Beckers Group
COATED M2A:
COATED M2A recognises applicants have a variety of backgrounds with different educational and research experiences. We do not expect applicants to be proficient users of any techniques/equipment mentioned, at the time of application. Our focus is to upskill our participants and training will be provided.
COATED M2A in the Faculty of Science and Engineering is a Swansea University initiative which provides postgraduate research training in partnership with industry, providing access to world class laboratories and a wealth of academic and industry expertise. COATED M2A is committed to providing top quality research opportunities within an inclusive environment, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Swansea University and Industry partners.
Interwoven through the research study are business, technical and entrepreneurial courses, designed to support and prepare participants for a senior role in industry or academia, on completion of their studies.
The Athena SWAN charter recognises work undertaken by institutions to advance gender equality. The College of Engineering is an Athena SWAN silver award holder and is committed to addressing unequal gender representation. Applications from women and other under-represented groups are particularly welcomed.
All applications will be anonymised prior to short listing.
Eligibility
Candidates must normally hold at minimum (or expect to obtain by the start date) an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University), or a combination of degree and equivalent experience to the same level.
Student profile:
The ideal candidate will be a self-starter who is willing to act on their own initiative and one who can present the results to an audience of Industrial Chemists, Senior Managers, and their peers. The candidate will have a first or upper second-class degree in chemistry or physics, but other science-based disciplines may be considered.
NB: If you are holding a non-UK degree, please see Swansea University degree comparisons to find out if you meet the eligibility.
English Language requirements: If applicable – IELTS 6.5 overall (with at least 6.0 in each individual component) or Swansea recognised equivalent.
Studentships for October 2023 entry are open to candidates of any nationality; however, please note:
International students (including EU countries) can apply, but due to UKRI funding rules, no more than 30% of the Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Functional Industrial Coatings projects can be allocated to international students. Once the cap is reached, studentships will only be open to applicants eligible for tuition fees at the UK rate, as defined by UKCISA regulations.
Further details about eligibility, including information about the ‘international cap’ can be found at: Eligibility (identifying if you are a home or international student) – UKRI.
If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email [Email Address Removed] with the web-link to the studentship(s) you are interested in.
ATAS
Please note that the programme requires some applicants to hold ATAS clearance; further details on ATAS scheme eligibility are available on the UK Government website.
ATAS clearance IS NOT required to be held as part of the scholarship application process; successful award winners (as appropriate) are provided with details as to how to apply for ATAS clearance in tandem with scholarship course offer.
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