Polymer Chemistry and Characterisation
We are now reopen after lockdown, please find our risk assessment here.
Warwick is recognised globally as a centre of excellence for polymer research. Warwick Scientific Services (WSS) provides a route for industry and other HEIs to access our state-of-the-art Polymer Characterisation Research Technology Platform (RTP) and to the expertise available for polymer synthesis.
We run services ranging from a single GPC/SEC sample to bespoke polymer synthesis and characterisation services, including:
- Polymer synthesis and characterisation
- GPC/SEC measurements (including high temperature)
- Thermal analysis (including DMA)
- Contact angle measurements
- Particle sizing
- Mechanical Testing
- Rheology
- Formulation analysis
For a full list of our instrumentation and their applications, see here.
For a virtual tour of our labs, see below!
For a brochure containing information on all RTP facilities please click here for the pdf
Useful Thermal Analysis Resources
Other Useful Analytical Resources
Please do contact us with any enquiry using the details shown to the right, or log an investigation here.
For internal access to our facility please follow this link.
Our People
Professor David Haddleton
Professor David Haddleton has over 30 years experience of industrial and academic polymer chemistry experience with over 400 academic papers and over 20 patent families. Professor Haddleton has extensive collaborations with industry including Unilever, Lubrizol, Syngenta, BASF, Merck, Astra Zeneca and SMEs including Medherant. There is experience in all polymer types and we aim to offer you solutions to your problems and add value by helping you understand your polymers and offer the right material for your needs. We offer short term and long term contracts to give you the flexibility required and extra effort when needed.
David is also Director of the Polymer Characterisation RTP
Dr Dan Lester
Dan has been at Warwick 9 years managing the Polymer RTP, a core facility dedicated to polymer and materials synthesis and analysis. Dan is an expert in a number of techniques, with special emphasis on Gel Permeation Chromatography., which he regularly teaches and delivers external courses on. In 2022 Dan obtained his first PhD student in collaboration with Astra-Zeneca (https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/as/people/2021/owentooley/).
Prior to taking his current role as Manager of the Polymer Characterisation RTP, Dan obtained a PhD in physical inorganic chemistry at Sussex.
Dr James Town
James is senior research technician for the facility, with particular specialties in thermal analysis, rheology and mass spectrometry. Prior to this role James completed his MPhys at Nottingham Trent University followed by a PhD in MALDI-ToF-MS for improved molecular weight determination, and MALDI-LID-ToF/ToF-MS for sequencing co-polymers and determining their nature in the Haddleton Group.
Dr Arkadios Marathianos
Arkadios is a senior research technician in the facility and has lots of experience in all forms of synthetic polymer chemistry and polymer analysis. As well as our synthetic expert, Arkadios also provides our NMR expertise. He graduated from the University of Athens in 2014, focusing on Polymer Chemistry under the supervision of Professor Marinos Pitsikalis. In 2016, he received his Research Master’s Degree (1st Class Honours) in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Athens. In October 2017, he started his PhD at the University of Warwick under the supervision of Professor David Haddleton working on Catalytic Chain Transfer Polymerisation and Sulphur-free RAFT.
Our Facilities
|
The GPC/SEC suite in the Polymer Characterisation RTP |
Our state-of-the-art GPC/SEC suiteOur GPC suite includes systems set up for:
If you require a different solvent, we can change the column to match your needs wherever possible. |
Below please find some videos introducing some of the facilities we have.
GPC Suite
Particle Sizing
Thermal Analysis
Rheology
The Polymer Club
The Polymer Club is an opportunity for Polymer Scientists in industry and academia to meet and discuss recent advances in the field, complimented by presentations and poster sessions.
Watch this space for information on our next event!
Poster
Download our latest poster in pdf format here!
Events
GPC/SEC Training course
Lecture training and hands-on demonstrations from experts in the field, held in our state-of-the-art GPC/SEC laboratory. Aimed at analysts, quality control engineers, managers and researchers with an interest in GPC/SEC. In partnership with Agilent Technologies LDA UK Ltd.
To enquire: please email: d dot Lester at warwick dot ac dot uk.
For more information, click hereLink opens in a new window.