APC Research Group at the University of Portsmouth http://www.port.ac.uk/composites

Advanced Polymer and Composites (APC) Research Group is affiliated to the Department of Mechanical and Design Engineering at the University of Portsmouth, UK. The Department has been recognised as one of the top research active departments in the UK by Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008. The research has been assessed as internationally recognised at the level of 85 percent with 45 percent of the research assessed as internationally excellent. APC Research Group undertakes a variety of R&D activities including characterisation, analysis, identification, selection, formulation, manufacturing, design, modelling, rapid prototyping, testing, repair, structural integrity evaluation and applications of thermoplastics, thermosets, adhesives, coatings, elastomers, polymeric composites, nanocomposites and other advanced materials. It has a wide range of the-state-of-the-art facilities for R&D in advanced polymer and composite materials. It has a track record of attracting funding from European Union, DTI, industries and regional government. It has also successfully provided services and consultancies to companies such as BVT, Thales, Safeguard Europe, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Pall Europe, TWI, PERA, Univar Europe, Halyard, LaFarge, Materials Technology Ltd, Gurit, Xyratex, etc. The APC Research Group has great interests in collaboration with academia, governmental organisations and industries in research, knowledge transfer, services and consultancy locally, nationally and internationally.

Research and Development Capabilities in APC Research Group

Advanced Polymer and Composites (APC) Research Group Department of Mechanical and Design Engineering, University of Portsmouth, UK

http://www.port.ac.uk/composites

♦ Nano-Indentation Test ♦ Nano-Scratch Test ♦ Computer Aided Materials Evaluation and Selection ♦ Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) ♦ Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry (MDSC) ♦ Thermogravimetric Analyser (TGA) ♦ Dynamic Mechanical Analyser (DMA) ♦ Thermomechanical Analyser (TMA) ♦ Thermal Conductivity Measurement (Laser Flash & Hot Wire) ♦ Electrical Conductivity Measurement ♦ Optical Deformation and Strain Measurement System ♦ Ultrasonic C-scan ♦ Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry (ESPI) ♦ Electronic Shearography ♦ Environmental Chamber and UV Weathering Tester ♦ Contact Angle and Surface Energy Measurement ♦ Coating Pull-off Tester ♦ Vacuum Bagging ♦ Compression Moulding ♦ Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) ♦ Universal Mechanical Tester ♦ Durometer for Plastics and Elastomer Hardness Test ♦ Instrumented Falling Weight Impact Test (IFWIT) Machine ♦ Charpy/Izod Pendulum and High Speed Ballistic Impact Tester ♦ Optical and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM & EDAX) ♦ Advanced Polymer Composites Online Learning Platform

APC Research Group at the University of Portsmouth http://www.port.ac.uk/composites

Research/Knowledge Transfer/Consultancy Projects in APC Research Group

• Characterisation and Testing of Different Adhesive Systems for Joining Fixings and Fixtures in Next Generation Aircraft Carrier

• Development of Water/Moisture Repellent and Energy Saving Coating for Building Materials

• Development of Electrically and Thermally Conductive Composites for Fuel Cell Applications

• Development and Evaluation of Novel Nano Gel Coat Systems with Improved Anti-blistering

• Identification and Characterisation of Plastics, Adhesives, Elastomers and Composites • Development and Characterisation of Natural Fibre Reinforced Eco-Composites • Material and Manufacture Selection of Polymers, Metals, Ceramics and Composites • Evaluation of Toughness and Post Structural Integrity of Sandwich Panels for Marine

Industry • Fabrication and Evaluation of Thermoplastic Composites (Glass Fibre/PP TwinTex) • Chemical Modification of Nano-Clays as Nano Scale Reinforcements in Composites • Study on Aluminised Fibre Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Composites • Development of Online Learning and Training Module of Advanced Polymer

Composites • Stiffness and Impact Toughness Evaluation of Light Aircraft Undercarriage Leg • Structural Integrity Assessment for Carbon Fibre Composites Windscreen Frames • Impact Resistance and Structural Integrity Assessment for Composites Bicycle Forks • Electrical Switch Failure Evaluation and Contamination Analysis

If you are interested in collaborative research, knowledge transfer, services and consultancy in the area of characterisation, analysis, identification, selection, formulation, manufacturing, design, rapid prototyping, testing and structural integrity evaluation of thermoplastics, thermosets, adhesives, coatings, elastomers, polymer matrix composites, nanocomposites and other advanced materials for your research, product and service development, quality control and training, please contact:

Dr Zhongyi Zhang Advanced Polymer and Composites (APC) Research Group Department of Mechanical and Design Engineering University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth Anglesea Building, Anglesea Road, Hampshire, PO1 3DJ, UK Email: zhongyi.zhang@port.ac.uk Tel: 0044 23 92842360 Fax: 0044 23 92842351