Research Consortium in Multi-Scale Transport Phenomena for Advanced Materials Manufacturing

在制造或使用的某个阶段，许多产品由不断演变的颗粒基质、活性成分和溶剂载体组成。进步/无论是改进的制造还是更好的使用功能/的一个关键限制/是我们对这些不断演变的产品中小分子和颗粒的多尺度传输之间的关系理解不足。复杂的几何形状和许多长度尺度上的异质性阻碍了分析的简单性。我们将其缩写为颗粒传输问题。微粒传输的例子包括[显然]胶体和涂层的简单干燥；纳米粒子簇中粒间作用力的控制；药物控释植入材料和酶标记清洁剂的开发。在几乎所有的情况下，发生的现象的动态，以及它们如何控制正在形成或使用的产品的内部微结构和性能的发展，人们知之甚少。因此，进展是随意的，主要是通过反复尝试。关键的是，一个部门的进步(甚至失败)并不总是在另一个部门实现。这项提议寻求资源，以建立一个有能力对广泛的部门和学科的颗粒物运输产生实际影响的联合体。它将确定问题、研究议程和最有能力落实议程的个人/团体。该联盟将把这一点集中到一个有针对性的有针对性的研究计划中。该项目的主要成果将是向EPSRC申请研究资金，以解决颗粒物传输问题。结果将随后嵌入到行业中。

At some stage of manufacture or use, many products consist of an evolving matrix of particles, active ingredient and solvent carrier. A key limitation to progress / either improved manufacturing or better in-use functionality / is our inadequate understanding of the relationship between the multi-scale transport of small molecules and particles within these evolving products. Complex geometries and heterogeneity over many length-scales inhibit easy analysis. We abbreviate this to the problem of particulate transport . Examples of particulate transport include the [apparently] simple drying of colloids and coatings; the control of interparticle forces in nanoparticle clusters; the development of controlled drug release implant materials and enzyme-tagged cleaning agents. In almost all cases the dynamics of the phenomena occurring, and how they control the development of the internal microstructure and performance of the product being formed or used, are poorly understood. Progress is, therefore, haphazard and largely by trial and error. Critically, advances (and indeed failures) in one sector are not always realised in another. This proposal seeks the resources to build a consortium with the ability to make real impact on particulate transport across a broad range of sectors and disciplines. It will identify the issues, the research agenda and those people / groups best able to pursue the agenda. The consortium will focus this into a cohesive programme of research with targeted aims and objectives. The principal output of the project will be a major application to the EPSRC for research funding to address particulate transport . Results will subsequently be embedded into industry.