Nanocomposites - WMG
Nanocomposites Group
Nanocomposites Research
The Nanocomposites Research Group at WMG delivers world‑leading expertise in the design, processing, and characterisation of polymer nanocomposites and advanced functional materials. Our mission is to help industry accelerate innovation by providing the scientific insight, processing capability, and translational expertise needed to turn emerging materials into commercially viable products.
Working at the interface of chemistry, materials science, and manufacturing, our researchers collaborate with global companies and high‑growth SMEs across telecommunications, electronics, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, automotive, security, and medical technologies. Our work supports partners seeking lighter, stronger, more durable and more sustainable materials that meet the demands of next‑generation products and regulatory environments.
About our research
Our research addresses the fundamental scientific barriers that currently limit the widespread industrial adoption of nanocomposites. These include:
- Controlling nanoparticle dispersion and distribution to achieve consistent, scalable performance
- Engineering the matrix–nanoparticle interface, which governs mechanical, electrical, thermal, and barrier properties
- Developing novel ceramic–polymer combinations to unlock enhanced electromagnetic and functional behaviour
- Creating multiscale modelling frameworks that link nanoscale interactions to macroscale performance, reducing development time and cost
These priorities directly support industry needs for materials that are lighter, safer, more energy efficient and more environmentally sustainable.
Expanding capability: Sustainable elastomers and circular materials
In response to urgent global challenges, including microplastic pollution, tyre wear from electric vehicles and the recyclability of high‑durability rubbers, the Nanocomposites Research Group now leads major programmes in sustainable elastomer innovation.
Our work includes:
- Self‑healing elastomers for extended tyre life and improved safety
- Stretchable and embedded sensors for mobility, robotics, and automation
- Nanofiller‑enhanced rubbers (including graphene) for improved durability and performance
- Recycling and repurposing of end‑of‑life rubber for infrastructure applications
These research areas align directly with industry priorities around circular materials, regulatory compliance, and lifecycle sustainability.
Why Partner with the Nanocomposites Research Group?
Our group is committed to helping industry translate cutting edge materials science into commercially viable, sustainable products that address real world challenges.
- Proven industrial impact:over a decade of successful collaboration with global manufacturers and innovative SMEs
- End to end capability: from molecular design and formulation through to pilot scale processing and performance validation
- Access to unique UK only equipment: enabling advanced elastomer and nanocomposite characterisation not available elsewhere
- Highly skilled researchers: a strong pipeline of PhD graduates and postdoctoral scientists who consistently move into industry roles
- Alignment with global priorities: including sustainable materials, circular economy solutions, hydrogen technologies and advanced manufacturing
Unique Facilities for Industrial Collaboration
The group benefits from access to some of the most advanced polymer and elastomer research facilities in the UK, including:
- Unique dynamic Rubber Process Analyser (RPA) with an extended temperature range of –40 °C to 232 °C, enabling advanced rheological and structural analysis, including large‑amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS)
- High-torque internal mixer and twin‑roll mill for rubber compounding
- Twin-screw extrusion, blown film extrusion, cast-film extrusion and injection moulding
- Fatigue tester & Intrinsic strength analyser, Abrasion and durability testing systems
- Wet chemistry laboratories for formulation development and nanoparticle functionalisation
- Polymer characterisation and testing laboratories supporting full materials development pipelines
These facilities allow industry partners to prototype, test, and validate materials under realistic conditions, significantly reducing development risk and accelerating time‑to‑market.
Our Focus Areas
Polymer chemistry and nanocomposites engineering for energy applications
Synthesis and modification of polymers and nanoparticles, Design and processing of polymer nanocomposites with enhanced thermal/electrical/electrochemical properties
Composites of Polymers and 0D/1D/2D Materials
Fundamental understanding of the factors that determine effective dispersion of nanoparticles in polymer melts.
Functionalisation of nanomaterials to promote interfacial interaction with polymers.
Primary and Secondary Processing of Composites of Polymers and 0D/1D/2D Materials
Development of strategies for the mixing of nanoparticles in polymer melts using extrusion. Processing-structure-property studies on composites of polymers and nanoparticles. Understanding the role secondary processing, in both the melt state and during solid-state deformation, play in determined the properties of nanoparticle filled polymers.
Composite Materials for Hydrogen Economy
We develop both predictive and experimental capabilities to provide a new insight into the behaviour of polymers and composites in hydrogen and harsh gaseous environments, for their improved design and manufacturing, for applications in hydrogen transmission and storage. Our predictive capability revolves around Scientific Machine Learning that combines mechanistic and data-driven modelling of chemical and multiphysics processes (e.g. reaction rates, diffusion, deformation) in the materials across the scales from nano right up to the macroscopic/infrastructural level. Our experimental facilities consist of hydrogen permeation and mechanical testing of polymer composites across a wide range of temperatures and pressures/loads, supported by advanced microscopy techniques.
Our industrial partners include Baker Hughes Ltd, Strohm, Tata Steel UK, National Composites Centre funded through the Henry Royce Institute, Innovate UK, or Strategic Catapult Programme in Hydrogen.
