Polymer films are used as protective coatings and adhesives. Films can be deposited onto solid substrates from solutions in organic solvents, but such a process releases the solvent into the atmosphere, which is not desired for environmental reasons. On the other hand, colloidal polymer particles in water, which are made by emulsion polymerisation, only release water into the atmosphere, which is not harmful. By creating a polymer film from colloidal particles, there is an opportunity to design the structure at nanometer length scales.

This project, which is funded by an industrial manufacturer, will focus on colloidal polymer films made from synthetic rubber (i.e. polyisoprene) and polybutadiene. Methods to design the nanostructure will be explored. Particles with a desired functional shell layer will be used to make films in which the shell phase creates a continuous network. The effect of polymer crystallisation on the nanostructure will be correlated with the mechanical properties. Advanced techniques of atomic force microscopy, electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) profiling, dynamic mechanical analysis, and tensile testing will be used to characterise the films. Physical models of the processes will be used and developed further.

A successful project will contribute to the development of better performance of polymer colloid films in applications in protective coatings, adhesives, and latex gloves for medical applications.

Research will be conducted in the Soft Matter Group’s modern laboratories that recently underwent investment of ca. £2.5M. The six academic staff and PhD students in the Soft Matter Group conduct research in a wide range of topics, spanning topics including nanomaterials, graphene, polymers, colloids, liquids in confinement, and biological physics. Experiments, computational modelling and theory are used in the research.

Applicants with previous academic study in physical chemistry, materials science or physics are particularly suitable for this project. Applicants should have, or expect, an upper second-class honours degree or higher.