PhD Vacancy - Adhesion of radiation cured coil coatings

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15 Feb 2025
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Guildford, United Kingdom
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Chemical and Biological Sciences
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PhD

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PhD Vacancy - Adhesion of radiation cured coil coatings

About the Role
Dating back over 150 years, Beckers is a true pioneer in providing unique, high-quality solutions that answer coating needs across many sectors. Currently Beckers is proud to be the global leader in supply of coil coatings from 24 locations in 18 countries. Currently the majority of coil coatings are applied to continuous wide metal strip and then thermally treated so as to induce gelation or crosslinking. Work with Surrey has developed many aspects of the current understanding about how this occurs at the molecular scale (eg: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2022.107065, doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.7b04877, doi.org/10.1002/sia.1985). Currently this heating is carried out using gas-powered ovens which impart a high carbon footprint to the finished article. As part of the ongoing commitment to increasing the sustainability of coil coatings new methods of crosslinking that have significantly lower carbon footprints are being explored.

One such method is to use UV or electron beam radiation (radcure) to initiate free radical polymerisation. As these new technologies are being introduced into the coil coating market, there is a requirement to understand how these radcure coatings adhere to each other, conventional coil coatings and metallic coil substrates (usually zinc-coated steel or aluminium). The specific focus of the project will be on the inter-coat adhesion between different coating systems by comparing dual-cure and fully radcure systems to standard thermally cured coil coating. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) will be used to characterise the interface of different cured coating systems and establish the mechanism of adhesion for the different regimes. Leading to an understanding of how the different chemistries used in both radcure and thermal curing affect the inter-coat interface, and consequently what effect this has on adhesion. This has the potential to bring about new formulations with improved performance. The project will benefit with the active involvement of Dr Gustavo Trindade from the National Centre of Excellence in Mass Spectrometry Imaging (NiCE-MSI) at NPL, to support our ToF-SIMS activities.
About You
Open to candidates who pay UK/home rate fees. Candidates must meet Surrey graduate entry requirements which include holding at least an upper second-class degree or equivalent qualifications in a relevant subject area such as physics, chemistry, materials science or engineering. A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline and additional research experience would be an advantage.

Link to apply: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/studentships/adhesion-radiation-cured-coil-coatings
About Us
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK.

NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.

At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we hold memberships and accreditations to ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome, please see our Diversity & Inclusion page.

We are committed to the health and well-being of our employees. Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work-life balance, along with a broad range of benefits. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success.

To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.