A Polymer Processing team act - for the Global
and Local stages!
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Academics, often typecast as catty, competitive and other-worldly as far as industry is concerned, have struck back with a vengeance. Against the background of down-sizing of R&D operations in UK industry (such as that seen in ICI, Raychem and BP for example), and the globalisation of industry, including its R&D operations, UK academics have formed powerful strategic collaborations in the polymer processing sector. The UK had an excellent start with the very successful Interdisciplinary Research Centre (IRC) for Polymer Science and Technology. For the past 11 years the IRC has linked research between polymer physicists, engineers and chemists at Leeds, Bradford and Durham Universities. Professor Phil Coates is the IRC Director at Bradford, the focus for polymer engineering. Following an industry-driven 'think tank meeting' in late 1997, he led proposals to the UK funding bodies for a strategy aimed at strengthening UK polymer research, together with Professors Mike Bevis, Roy Crawford and Tom McLeish. This involved linking key polymer engineering groups at Bradford, Brunel and Belfast in a major programme to enhance polymer processing. A sister programme would link key polymer science groups at Leeds, Bradford, Durham, Sheffield, Cambridge and Oxford to identify polymer rheology effects on model process flows. Both of these £2million programmes have now commenced, funded by the Government Engineering and Physical Science Research Council, with substantial support from UK and international companies. In addition, the DTI have been funding a most successful partnership with industry concerning in-process measurements on polymers: the IRC Bradford laboratory forms the basis for world-leading process monitoring in collaboration with 45 companies who provide strong in-kind support. This is an ongoing programme, whose activities are being linked with the recently started projects. Another key component of the strategic drive is the COMPPRO Computer Modelling of Polymer Processing) Network, funded by EPSRC. This is hosted at Bradford, but includes all UK Universities with interests in computer modelling of polymer processing (melts or solids) - 13 Universities to date. Professional organisations and companies are also currently partners in the COMPPRO network. The latest development in this theme
of 'academics getting their act together' is the newly launched
Faraday Plastics. This EPSRC/ DTI supported venture is hubbed at
RAPRA Ltd and Warwick University |
Prof Coates comments "The picture in the UK is not unique worldwide - other countries are experiencing changing industrial R&D patterns. However, our growing academic strength through genuine collaboration - and the breadth of that collaboration - is unique, and provides exciting possibilities for the UK on the world stage, together with the possibility of industry regeneration through inventiveness. This is particularly appropriate for high value added processing, which I for one believe to be crucial to the success of our polymer processing sector. It is important and timely for UK industry to grasp this opportunity to become involved with our initiatives; companies who genuinely wish to be active participants will find real benefits for both the short and long terms." All of the programmes referred to in this article will welcome further industrial partners. Associated new ventures are already being planned or are due to be started, such as a process energy monitoring project, a UK Micromoulding Interest Group, a programme for materials processing beyond polymers, and new process monitoring initiatives including spectroscopy and tomography. The web sites listed provide more details of existing programmes - or contact Professor Coates by email or phone (01274 234540) or fax (01274 234505). Relevant web sites:
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