The Synthesis and Design of Biodegradable and Speciality Optic Fiber Coatings

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Synthetic organic chemistry in collaboration with industrial partner Fibercore: a company with a site in Southampton producing specialist optical fibre products for global customers.The properties of specialist optical fibres critically depend on the formulation and application of polymer coatings. Indeed, their functional characteristics are dictated by the nature of the coating, which in turn is governed by its structure and the constituents used in the curing process. The project draws on our combined expertise in organic chemistry and fibre technology to provide solutions to a broad range of contemporary challenges:The design of sustainable routes to biodegradable coatings for use in various settings, e.g., sensors for biomedical or marine environmentsUnderstanding and controlling curing: how does the chemical structure of the components dictate the properties of cured coatings? Use of fine chemical synthesis to engender bespoke structural and functional characteristicsThe development of a new class of UV transparent coatings for write-through applicationsInvestigation of UV-curable polyimide coatings: facile curing of speciality coatings for harsh environmentsThe project is largely centred on lab-based organic synthesis with opportunities to explore areas of materials science and analytical chemistry (GCMS, LCMS etc.) alongside world-leading groups at the University and within Fibercore.Importantly, the geographical proximity of the partners will facilitate regular collaborative meetings and provide opportunities to use the state-of-the-art facilities available at Fibercore. It will deliver topical, multidisciplinary training within a highly supportive research and training environment, together with industrial experience, thus developing highly employable skills.