Aston University, PhD, Polymers

Current research interests include: Synthesis of polymers with control of molecular architecture by catalyst system modification; ring opening polymerisation; ferro magnetic polymer synthesis; antioxidants and stabilisers for metallocene polymers during melt processing; vitamin E as biological antioxidant for polymers targeted for human-contact applications; photostabilisation and durability of polymers and antioxidant mechanisms; oxidation and stabilisation of oils, proteins and starches; blends and polymer modification by reactive processing; evaluation of service performance and durability of new waterborne automotive coatings; speciality additives in polyethylene terephthalate for food packaging applications; synthesis and characterisation of additives and their mechanisms of action in polymers; recycling and upgrading the performance of post-consumer waste plastics; degradable polymers: mechanistic role of additives during melt processing of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol-based polymers; biodegradable polymers: synthesis of novel plasticisers and property modifiers for biodegradable packaging materials; measurements of the electro-optic Kerr effects of polymers to investigate the interrelation between their stereo-structure and conformational behaviour.