New members please mail their profile to sms5mdm@leeds.ac.uk
Welcome to the Colloid and Polymer Engineering Group
Our research group, led by Prof. Simon Biggs has a wide variety of interests within the broad area of colloid and interfacial engineering. It is part of the Institute of Particle Science and Engineering at the University of Leeds.A significant focus of our research work concerns the characterisation and control of interfacial structures formed by polymers and/or surfactants. Using this information we are working to develop a more systematic approach to the formulation of dispersions. Such work has obvious value for a wide range of products from areas such as personal care, pharmaceuticals, foods, agrochemicals and household cleaning agents. Using our understanding of how to formulate dispersions we are also exploring how to manipulate the properties of 'natural' solid liquid dispersions such that their re-suspension and flow properties might be better controlled. This work is supported strongly by the UK's nuclear industry where significant volumes of solid-liquid waste exist and better routes to manage this waste are currently sought. Characterization and control of solid-liquid systems is at the core of this work and provides the main focus of our research.
The group also has a strong interest in nanotechnology and we are exploring a number of different approaches for the formation of highly functional surface or particle coatings using bottom-up fabrication approaches. In one recent example, we have studied the behaviour of novel stimulus responsive polymers in solution and on solid surfaces, including self-assembly and adsorption. We are now using these responsive polymers as building blocks for the formation of new types of capsules that can be used as controlled release products.
As a result of the group research two technology driven spin-out companies have recently been formed, Chamelic Ltd. And Rheokinisis Ltd.