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- Product & Materials Technology Group
Product & Materials Technology Group
(Prof M El-Sharif, Prof D Harrison, Dr A DeSilva, Dr D McGlinchey, Prof J Pugh, Mr A Cowell)
There are 3 areas within the group:
Surface Engineering
(Prof Mahmoud El-Sharif)
This area involves fundamental studies on the surface engineering properties of materials providing solutions to industrial environmental problems and the creation of new products. Electrochemistry is being used to understand and model corrosion of metallic coatings and to characterise environmental, industrial scale, surface processing routes such as electro-deposition.
Design and Manufacturing Optimisation
(Prof D Harrison, Dr A DeSilva)
Research in this area comprises: Intelligent process control and Condition Monitoring approaches for electrochemical discharge machining (ECDM); wider Unconventional Machining; Rapid Prototyping; Hydro-forming and is balanced between fundamental research into characterising the processes and industrial research to meet client needs.
Research in Process Efficiency and Optimisation (PEO) (Multiphase flow (air/solids))
(Dr Don McGlinchey, Prof John Pugh, Mrs Liz Knight, and Mr Andrew Cowell)
This area has been successful for over 15 years, with industrial-scale test facilities and industry-standard characterisation test and measurement equipment, in: developing empirical design relationships, CFD modelling with experimental verification and developing measurement techniques for pneumatic conveying and bulk materials characterisation. The group are particularly successful in consultancy and knowledge transfer activities with over 50 consultancy contracts undertaken. Recent investment from internal funding, donations of equipment and commercial activity is of the order of £120k. Funding of £139k has been secured from Scottish Enterprise for knowledge transfer activity.
The group has expertise in the characterisation of bulk solids, multiphase flow and design of pneumatic conveying plant, and instrumentation and measurement. Recent research into the determination of solids’ mass flow measurement by thermal methods, based on experimentation and CFD modelling has led to a successful Proof of Concept award (£200k) from Scottish Enterprise.