About the Project
Molecular migration is a common feature to many everyday products from coatings to adhesives and foods, and is essential to understand and control in order to manage performance, shelf-life and durability of these products. The interplay between surface energy, compatibility and entropy of mixing or confinement are all important, but these factors remain poorly understood for all but the simplest model systems. This studentship forms part of a collaboration between Durham, Birmingham and Sheffield Universities and 3 industrial partners, Procter & Gamble, Akzo Nobel and Mondelez. Despite the very diverse portfolio of products encompassed by these partners, all have a common need to better understand and predict molecular migration in complex structured materials. The overall project is funded by EPSRC and the industrial partners, and includes theoretical, experimental and computational element with the ambition of generating a validated software tool to predict migration phenomena in complex materials.
The aim of this experimental PhD studentship is to determine surface and interfacial segregation of small molecules in a complex, polymeric matrix as a function of fundamental molecular characteristics; e.g. polarity, amphiphilic strength, crystallinity of both the matrix and the additive. In particular, we are interested in the transformations that are relevant to melt-processing additives, which are small molecules added to a polymer during processing to impart special properties to the surface of the finished materials.
Ion beam analysis techniques, supported by neutron reflectometry will be used to determine the influence of matrix and additive structure on surface segregation. These experiments will be supported by AFM analysis of surfaces to explore the migration of molecules across surfaces. Full training will be provided as required. The successful applicant will be required to work closely with the collaborating partners working on the theoretical, computational and industrial aspects of the wider project.
Applications are invited from enthusiastic and motivated physical chemists, physicists or chemical engineers who have (or expect to obtain) at least the equivalent of a UK 2.i honours masters level degree in a relevant subject. The position is supported by Procter and Gamble and is available from October 2017 with a duration of 4 years, of which the first six months will be based in the SOFI-CDT training programme at Durham, Leeds and Edinburgh. The applicant should be willing to travel between sites as well as external facilities as part of this project.
Applicants should contact Dr Richard Thompson ([Email Address Removed]) with a covering letter, c.v. and the names of two suitable referees. Potential applicants are also welcome to contact Dr Thompson with informal enquiries.
Early applications are strongly encouraged. The position will be filled when a suitable candidate is identified.
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