The polymer interphase in adhesively bonded metal joints plays an important role concerning the mechanical behaviour and durability under service conditions. Recent investigations have been able to identify a polymer interphase region adjacent to the metal surface with a thickness of up to 100μm where cross linking density and glass transition temperatures differ significantly from those of the bulk polymer due to the long-range influence of the adhesive interactions in the contact zone to the metal surface.
In a joint research project the mechanical behaviour of the interphase region has been investigated by microextensometry using scanning electron microscopy as an imaging device and computational image analysis.
Surface engineering is vital to the success of almost every commercial and industrial product, from aero engines to razor blades. It is a critical enabling technology that underpins every industrial and manufacturing sector. The new Surface Engineering Division Strategy of IOM3 encompasses the needs of British industry to enable predictive design of important components and products with minimum waste and the use of more sustainable materials and environmentally friendly processes.
The four main areas of activity in the field of adhesion and adhesives at the University of Surrey are outlined: structural adhesive bonding; pressure-sensitive adhesive research; the interfacial chemistry of adhesion; and smart adhesive research.
The UK automotive industry is enjoying a revival similar to that of its heyday of the mid 1960s to 1970s. There are, however, new materials challenges to be faced in future.
The EU aims to meet 20% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2020. Organic photovoltaics — solar cells made from plastics — could be one promising avenue. They take the form of a flexible, light film that can be easily attached to other materials and adapted to different colours and designs. This has led to potential commercial applications in the construction industry, where plastic cells could be used as a thin film on roofs, windows and facades. Moreover, they could feature in foldable chargers for mobile phones and other gadgets on car roofs, or in clothes.
The increase in the use of plastic as a pipe material to transport gas and water has been attributed to factors such as corrosion resistance, strength-to-weight ratio, lightness, flexibility and cost. One joining process for pipes is electrofusion welding. But defects can occur due to poor practices. Polytec, a project from the European Commission and The Welding Institute (TWI), based in Cambridge, UK, has resulted in in-manufacture, online, non-destructive, quality control of polyethylene electrofusion joints using ultrasonic phased arrays.
Techniques to image materials at the micron scale and below include scanning and transmission electron microscopes (SEM and TEM) and scanning probe microscopes (SPM). The dynamical behaviour of nano-objects is quite different from those of ‘bulk’ materials. The development of SPM probes for electron microscopes is enabling real-time testing of nanovolumes of material, and is providing the opportunity to make movies of nanomaterials in motion.
