Research

Power Systems

We have research and development projects related to power generation, transmission and distribution, some linked to consultancy activities. We address the following areas:

• Power cable development and system assessment
• Transformer and generator condition assessment
• TranSpec™ assessment of insulation materials
• Transmission system environmental and economic assessment
• Life cycle costing of transmission systems
• Life cycle analysis of electrical equipment assets

New Materials Development

We have research and development projects in the following areas:

• New electrical insulation materials
• Advanced thermosets and thermoplastics
• Durable fuel cell membranes
• Nano-composites and nano-dielectrics

Sustainable Power Cable Materials Technologies with Improved Whole Life Performance

We have an exciting new project that is making rapid progress with high voltage cable insulation materials, take a look at our project summary page.

Plasma Processes

• Nano-particle production
• Applications of atmospheric plasmas in surface engineering
• Atmospheric plasmas in medical applications

We have developed a method for full and rapid characterisation of the active ingredient/polymorph in a drug delivery system. In-situ spectroscopic analyses allowed us to compare drug formulation at different points in the manufacturing process and at various points in the degradation of the polymorph. Ageing studies combined with multivariate analysis ensured that a stable drug formulation was developed and the client was then able to take the drug to market.		Multivariate analysis is a group of methods that clusters samples with similar spectra and correlates these with chemical and physical properties.
		In this example, four polymorphs are clearly clustered and mixtures are seen on a trajectory between them. This provides rapid visual quality identification.

Rapid Analysis of Flame Retardants

We have developed a method using rapid, non-destructive, Raman spectroscopy for analysis of plastic enclosure materials containing FRs and other additives. The system is portable and therefore suitable for use in the field.

This system has a wide range of applications including polymer recyclate analysis, polymer identification and qualification, and analysis and qualification of FRs and other additives either as separate samples or existing within the polymer matrix. The spectra provide us with reliable identification of the FR molecular composition and concentration, a clear advantage over more commonly used techniques which only provide elemental data. Measurement time is typically fast, and in some cases in which a strong Raman signal is present, only a fraction of a second is required.

The system is also under development for analysis of plastics containing dark pigments such as carbon black. We have developed a new experimental method which has proven successful in analysing common engineering thermoplastics such as ABS and HIPS containing carbon black, materials which have up until now presented difficulties in spectroscopic measurement due to the high absorption of the carbon component.

We have also worked with a number of compounders and masterbatchers on rapid formulation assessment and quality assurance including that of very heavily flame retardant formulations.