Thermomechanophores to track and transform polymer degradation in mechanical recycling

Polymers are essential to nearly every aspect of our lives from the clothes we wear, to the cars we drive, to the plastic containers that keep our favourite foods fresh. However, the unfettered extraction of fossil fuels and the pollution from uncaptured plastic waste leads to a pressing need create value from our plastic waste. Mechanical recycling is one of the most sustainable solutions for end-of-life processing of plastics due to its low carbon footprint. However, the mechanical, optical, and thermal properties of mechanical recyclate do not match those of virgin material, leading to downcycling of the polymers to lower value products. The difference in quality of recyclate is in part due to degradation of the polymer structure induced by the large mechanical forces and high temperatures required during mechanical recycling. Understanding and controlling such degradation processes will be key to improving the quality of mechanically recycled products.

This studentship seeks to take advantage of mechanically responsive species known as mechanophores to embed thermo-mechanically responsive materials within the mechanical recycling process to both track the degradation of polymers in recyclate and then improve the quality of the product created from the recycled feedstock. A project at the interface between polymer synthesis, polymer processing (extrusion and injection moulding), and analytical quality control, the studentship will use a suite of analytical tools to track these new additives to quantify the degradation of recycled materials and explore how this degradation is influenced by processing conditions, the project will provide fundamental insights into the degradation induced by mechanical recycling and improve plastic circularity.

We thus seek and enthusiastic student keen to help improve the sustainability of our planet in an interdisciplinary team. The project is a new collaboration between Prof. Mike Shaver (Director of the Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub) and Dr. Niamh Fox (expert in mechanochemistry) to disrupt the recycling industry.

Eligibility

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s in a relevant science or engineering related discipline. Experience with either polymer chemistry, polymer engineering, polymer processing or sustainability principles is desired.

Funding

This 3.5 year project is fully funded for home students. The successful applicant will receive an annual tax free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£19,237 for 2024/25) and tuition fees will be paid.

Before you apply

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisors for this project before you apply.

How to apply

After initial screening by contacting the supervisor(s), to be considered for this project you’ll need to complete a formal application through our online application portal (https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425).

When applying, you’ll need to specify the full name of this project, the name of your supervisor(s), details of your previous study, and names and contact details of two referees.

Your application will not be processed without all of the required documents submitted at the time of application, and we cannot accept responsibility for late or missed deadlines. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

If you have any questions about making an application, please contact our admissions team by emailing FSE.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk.

Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact.

We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status.

We also support applications from those returning from a career break or other roles. We consider offering flexible study arrangements (including part-time: 50%, 60% or 80%, depending on the project/funder).

_{featuredproject12_dec24}