Advanced Materials Brochure
advanced materials see the results see for yourself...
...see the difference world class facilities and skills can make to your business
Global Challenge Birmingham Science City The opportunity to identify, create, To facilitate access to the latest thinking, The initiative also includes investment in and exploit new materials to meet research and equipment in advanced research on Translational Medicine and the challenges we face in health, materials Advantage West Midlands have Energy Futures. engineering, energy and environment invested over £20M in the development of has never been greater. The scope a range of new facilities and equipment. It reinforces the West Midlands region as a from exploiting the possibilities of leading centre of expertise in research nano materials, through characterising The establishment of these new facilities and technology. new materials to understanding the is part of the larger investment by associated process issues spans all Advantage West Midlands and ERDF sectors. Applying this knowledge to in the research infrastructure of the metals, polymers, composites, ceramics, West Midlands region, which unites semiconductors and pharmaceuticals the Universities of Birmingham and will be central to future economic growth Warwick in a newly-formed Science across a number of strategic sectors. City Research Alliance. real tangible now Positioning a specimen for single crystal x-ray diffraction to determine Advanced Materials the material’s crystal structure This project is led jointly by the University of Birmingham and the University of Warwick, but involves many other partners and Universities. If focuses on a number of key areas in both nano and bulk functional materials:
Creating and Characterising the next generation of Advanced Materials Innovative Uses for Advanced Materials in the Modern World Processing of Advanced Materials Getting Involved The aim of the project is to encourage industrial and academic collaboration and joint research.
It provides an opportunity for businesses and industry to access the latest thinking, research and equipment in the field.
The objective is to encourage more rapid development of new technologies and to Autosampler loading on Bruker ensure that the West Midlands region is D8 X-Ray Diffactometer positioned to benefit from future industrial and research investment. What Next To find out how your business could benefit from the programme contact:
Richard Simpson Karl West Business Engagement Manager Business Engagement Manager University of Birmingham University of Warwick Research and Commercial Services Research Support Services
Tel: 0121 414 9544 Mobile: 07824 541 172 Mobile: 07595 894256 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]
Size selected cluster beam to produce nano particles Ure tionsequat iriusci blaore digna alis alit wis doloborero digna autpati nciduis eugait, sequat. Ut vercil dolore exer sequatum el endre commodit alismodolut JEOL Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (JEM-2100F)
superconducting smaller, lighter, faster
Company Background
3-Cs has developed and patented which 3-Cs already has in-house novel manufacturing processes for investigating epitaxially grown for depositing superconducting films, and will result in an increased thin films onto rotating proprietary understanding of the growth cylindrical substrates for the next processes required to produce large generation of very high power density area superconducting structures. electrical machines. Electric motors, generators, transformers, magnets etc will be more powerful, compact “We have supported the concept and lightweight than ever before. of Science City right from the The implications for aerospace and beginning and now that we have defence are enormous, and the wider been able to benefit directly from commercial applications include the scheme we have no hesitation the energy, transport, medical and in recommending it to any small industrial processing sectors. business needing access to the facilities and expertise at the Dr Eamonn Maher, MD and Founder universities of Birmingham and of 3-Cs, wished to gain access to Warwick.” the specialist high resolution, high flux configuration of the Panalytical “Great care was taken by the X’Pert Pro Materials Research Business Engagement Manager, Diffractometer at the University of Richard Simpson, in understanding Warwick in order to help monitor our business needs and technical and optimise key manufacturing requirements and in making the processes under development at their right introductions. All this was Malvern site. accomplished in short order, and we were able to get on with the job and This was arranged through the lay the groundwork for improving Birmingham Science City programme our manufacturing processes. It resulting in Dr. Phil Hirst, Principal really is a pleasure to deal with such Scientist at 3-Cs, having regular high-quality people and we look access to the Warwick equipment forward to collaborating more in the and being trained in its use. future.” The large area XRD characterisation technique complements the in-house Dr Eamonn Maher EBSD detailed mapping technique MD - 3-Cs Ltd
Examining fluorescent markers on plant roots using laser scanning confocal microscopy. The tunable white light laser enables a wide variety of such markers to be studied optimisation for product formulations
Science City researchers at The University of the-art pieces of equipment that has been effective product formulations. Birmingham have been working with Unilever made available as part of the Science City The University of Birmingham has one of UK. Unilever is one of the world’s leading programme, a Confocal Raman Microscope. the largest concentrations of Chemical suppliers of fast-moving consumer goods. Raman microscopy, and in particular confocal Engineering expertise in the UK, with an Their three global divisions cover foods, microscopy, has very high spatial resolution excellent reputation in learning, teaching home care and personal care. Within the and Raman imaging is a powerful technique for and research. Its Chemical Engineering personal care market, they are global leaders generating detailed chemical images based on School is within the top five of the country. in products for skin cleansing, deodorants a sample’s Raman spectrum. It combines global experts in their field, and antiperspirants. Unilever employ 179, together with leading edge facilities and 000 people in 100 countries worldwide and Raman spectra were acquired using an laboratories. invest 1 billion every year on research and infrared laser source together with two- development. dimensional maps of the distribution of product “Working with the researchers at ingredients. A wide variety of Raman images University of Birmingham has been Science City researchers have been working were created which take the researcher well a real benefit to our business and with Unilever to investigate the distribution beyond what the eye can see. their expertise is invaluable. We look of active ingredients for the application forward to continuing this relationship.” for personal hygiene products. The work This analysis has provided beneficial has made use of one of the many state-of- information for the future optimisation of Nick Ainger, Unilever R&D, UK sea change
www.birminghamsciencecity.co.uk
Dr. Zoe Lethbridge Dr. Mark Humphries Project Manager Project Manager Research Support Services Research & Commercial Services University of Warwick University of Birmingham CV4 7AL B15 2SQ
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 2476 528 437 Tel: +44 (0) 121 414 6027 Mobile: +44 (0) 07824 541 072