Sustainable delivery of materials through spray coating

Many materials have additional protection through modifying their surface properties. This PhD examines the fluid mechanics of this process. This protection is important as the combined choice of the underlying material and the surface treatment influences the longevity, the cost and ultimately the environmental impact. A perfect example would be a container ship – the protection of the steel is key in creating a cost-effective hull, with longevity that protects both the ship and the environment. 

This specific project is to address the link between the ‘rheology’ of the paint and its performance during its coating. The rheology captures the complex structure of the material – for example how it might change its viscosity during its coating. In this work we will be examining the use of spray coating, which brings benefits of speed and is finding wide application including in the buildings industry. We will be designing new equipment capable of capturing the very fast dynamics of droplets formed during this process using a mixture of high-speed photography, stroboscopic imaging and performance testing. Your work will see you examining how small amounts of functional additives change this performance – and ultimately affect the environmental impact of the process. 

This is a unique opportunity to work with a world-leading industrial partner. The project is in collaboration with Akzo Nobel who will provide industrial direction and technical support. There will be opportunity for an industrial placement (which is funded) to provide a stronger understanding of industrial practices.

Within the University of Leeds, the project will run within the faculty of Engineering where there is excellent experimental support including workshop facilities to support the development of new approaches to exploring fluid mechanics in general. The supervision team have shared ongoing projects, and you will join a dynamic research team spanning a range of subjects, giving you a rich academic and supportive environment.