Department of Chemical Engineering and the BP Institute
University of Cambridge
A PhD Studentship supervised by Alex Routh in collaboration with Kodak European Research
Colloidal particles are sub-micron sized entities in a fluid. Arrangement of these particles into useful arrays is central to nano-fabrication and building of devices. Removal of solvent, or drying, is necessarily a step in this process and when colloidal particles are dried an amazing array of cracks is observed with centimetre sized coherent regions between the cracks.
A recently completed PhD project has shown that the cracks form as a result of capillary pressures generated as the solvent leaves the dispersion. Experiments carried out at room temperature have shown that conventional theories do not capture the observed patterns and we have proposed a new theory.
Industrially, drying is carried out very rapidly, at elevated temperatures. The cracking in these cases is observed to be different from the slow case we have examined previously. The processes occurring and a prediction of the patterns produced will be the theme of this PhD project. In addition polymeric binders are often added to industrial systems, particularly where particle suspensions have been coated. The binders will attach to particles consequently changing the film permeability and strength. The effect of the binders will be the subject of investigation early in the project.
This project will be co-funded by Kodak and close collaboration with the industrial contacts will be central to the project. It is expected that the student will spend some time working in the Kodak labs, which are based on the Cambridge Science Park.
Applicants will be expected to have both experimental and modelling abilities and must possess a First Class or a 2:1 degree in a relevant discipline such as chemical engineering, engineering, chemistry or physics.
Full funding (i.e. pays tuition fees at the UK/EU rate as well as a tax-free maintenance stipend of £12,900 p.a. for 2008/9; £13,200 p.a. for 2009/10; £13,500 p.a. for 2010/11) is available to UK nationals, or EU nationals who have completed their undergraduate studies in the UK.
Funding information
- Funding applies to:
- EU applicants (including UK)
- Funding notes:
Funding is available to EU nationals who have completed their undergraduate studies in the UK.
Contacts and how to apply
- Academic contact:
For more information please contact Alex Routh by email at afr10@cam.ac.uk
- Administrative contact and how to apply:
In the first instance, applicants should send a detailed curriculum vitae (to include numerical details of grades obtained in relevant examinations) to: Linda Craft at recruitment@cheng.cam.ac.uk as soon as possible.
