Optimisation of energy consumption in polymer processing

Processes such as extrusion and injection moulding are used to produce the vast majority of plastic products manufactured worldwide, yet these processes are energy intensive and often run inefficiently. This project will seek to use novel in-process measurement techniques to quantify and understand specific energy consumption during conventional and novel processes for a range of different polymer types and process conditions.

Research aims & objectives

The aim of the project will be to improve fundamental understand of how the process can be run at optimum efficiency whilst producing high quality products, and to develop tools to assist the polymer industry. The experimentally based project builds upon a significant body of research performed at Bradford within the Polymer IRC research group, including development of novel process measurement capabilities such as in-line measurement of energy consumption. The project would suit candidates with an engineering background interested in polymers and process engineering.