|
UK Polymer Showcase (2004-2009)Between 2004 and 2009 the Polymer IRC ran annual open national meetings to showcase progress in polymer science and technology, as described below: UK Polymer Showcase 2009 Polymers in Sport : A Success Story8/9 September 2009 English Institute of Sport, SheffieldPolymers in Sport: A Success Story The development of polymeric materials, fibres and coatings has contributed directly to improvements in performance and is vital in safety applications in sports as diverse as formula one racing, track and field and swimming, with uses in clothing, footwear, surfaces and all types of vehicles. The 2009 UK Polymer Showcase demonstrated how advances in polymer science and technology are being applied in sports to add competitive edge, help protect participants from injury, aid damage repair and bring winter sports closer to home. The programme opened with Dr Andrew Lynn of Orthomimetics taking a look at developments in the design and manufacture of regenerative medical implants and minimally invasive delivery systems for the treatment of sports injuries and other conditions that affect articular joints. This was followed by Dr Aileen Crawford from the University of Sheffield, describing the regenerative medicine approaches and tissue engineering techniques being utilized to provide cartilage and bone grafts to replace or regenerate defective cartilage, delaying the need for joint replacement. The second session focussed on advanced clothing and footwear. Cath Rogan of the Smart Garment People demonstrated how nanomaterials could be incorporated into clothing for sports and personal protection. Neil Hopkinson (Loughborough University) described how rapid manufacturing techniques which require no tooling could be used to make sports footwear, reducing manufacturing costs. The meeting moved on to consider developments in winter sports. Jonathan Philby described how Bradford University and Briton Engineering had worked together to improve the artificial ski slope surface “Snowflex”, enabling ski fanatics to reduce their carbon footprints by practising their sport at home. Peter Styring (Sheffield University) explained how the advanced engineering in the Wildfire system for self-waxing skis could give competitive advantage and how this was entwined with sports regulation. Mark Preston of Formtech Composites Ltd continued the speed theme in looking at the development of advanced polymer composites that could deal with the harsh environment of Formula 1 racing cars and how developments in this field affect industries such as aerospace and automotive manufacturing. Finally, Peter Hine (Leeds University) looked at the challenges of creating new generation single polymer self-reinforced composites and how these materials offered new opportunities for manufacturers. In addition to insights into how advances in materials science were currently being applied in sports related industries, the speakers shared their visions and wish lists of how future advances might be harnessed by sportsmen and women, leaving the audience with food for thought on where they might contribute. Themes
SpeakersSome of the presentations from the 2009 meeting are available below, linked through the titles of the presentations. Please be aware that most of the files are very large! You can download abstracts for all talks: Abstracts link (169kB PDF)
A Biomedical Engineering Project from Lab to Spin-off to Market (2.2MB PDF)
Regenerative Medicine: A role in cartilage repair (4.1MB PDF)
Smart Polymers for Smart Garments: Next generation polymer applications for sports & defence clothing (13.6MB PDF)
Making products without tools: how a profound change in manufacturing is being applied to sports footwear (974kB PDF)
Combating Climate Change in the Snowsports Industry
Engineering in Sport: Gaining an Advantage
Composite Material Substitution in Formula 1 - Implications for industry (1.4MB PDF)
Developing The Next Generation Of Polyethylene Based Single Polymer Composites (7.2MB PDF) Enquiries:(Email polymer.showcase@leeds.ac.uk) UK Polymer Showcase 2008 - "Polymers and Society"16/17/18 September 2008 National Science Learning Centre, YorkThe National Polymer Community plays Global HostThe annual “UK Polymer Showcase” came this year to York, as guests of the National Science Learning Centre. Unique in the class of “knowledge-transfer” events, the 3 day meeting aims to connect internationally leading research in polymer and soft materials science and technology right into industrial application. Jointly hosted by the Polymer IRC and the Polymer Innovation Network and sponsored by them and Yorkshire Forward, we are able to offer the meeting on a zero-fee basis to assist small companies and others new to the R&D sector to come and get connected fast. Each year the meeting focuses in its morning sessions on four critical or topical themes. “Polymers in Medicine” offered an insight into how microstructural design of materials creates biocompatibility, while “Advanced Polymer Waste Management” took the sustainability agenda in three imaginative directions from naturally-source polyurethanes to bulk reprocessing of mixed plastic waste via the structure of sea-shells! “Polymers for Sustainable Energy” reminded us of the promise organic photovoltaics hold for large-scale solar energy harvesting, and we finished with a positive celebration in “Polyolefins- the next 50 years”, on their 75th anniversary: a vision of true molecular engineering for bottom-up design in new materials. Science-informed materials design was also the theme of the Polymer IRC projects showcased as usual on the first afternoon, from the first ever in silico simulation of low density polyethylene synthesis-to-rheology by an industry-academic collaboration, to an exploratory project in nano-encapsulation. One of the special features of the Showcase meetings is the annual opportunity for two communities to meet. Last year materials scientists met fashion designers – this year our venue suggested “Education and the Media”. Quentin Cooper of BBC Radio 4 delivered a memorable and thought-provoking insight into the public image of science and scientists while our host, John Holman of NSLC underlined the essential role that science teachers play in the UK science and technology economy. The continued urgency of good science communication was brought into focus by Tom Sheldon of the Science Media Centre who was able to glean advice from the participants on the possible health risks of Bisphenol A, in the press the same week. The Showcase is a major national meeting, but is has increasingly attracted strong international participation. The “IRC Industrial Club” now has several members from Japan and Korea. An EPSRC-funded virtual institute allowed the participation of 24 Chinese scientists, including Prof. Qi Wang of Sichuan who presented several novel processing technologies. The American wing of the IRC’s “Microscale Polymer Processing Project” was represented by professors Don Baird of Virginia Tech and Jimmy Mays of the University of Tennessee. Such an international mix under the 14th century timbers of the Merchant Adventurers Hall for dinner seemed an appropriate place for today’s adventurers in polymer technology. Tom McLeish Themes
Provisional programme (Adobe .pdf 14kB, updated 22nd August 2008). UK Polymer Showcase 2007 - "Innovative Materials"London College of Fashion, 5th/6th/7th September 2007
The 2007 Polymer Showcase took place at the London College of Fashion. In keeping with the interests of our hosts, the meeting took a look at the new types of smart meterials being developed for textiles and other applications. The meeting featured collaborations that have been built upon exchanges of ideas between the science an design communities, such as Tony Ryan and Helen Storey's "Wonderland Project" and "The Emotional Wardrobe" presented by Sharon Baurley. The speakers at the meeting gave an excellent selection of presntations including Stanislav Gorb of the Max Planck Institut fur Metallforschung,Stuttgart,who showed us how biology could be used to develop new adhesives. Simon Edmonds of BERR and Robert Quarshie from the Polymer Innovation Network both examined the future for UK materials science and Christina deMatteis from the University of Nottingham gave the audience food for thought on innovative ways of engaging the public's interest in science. Registration for the Polymer Showcase remains FREE, through sponsorship by Yorkshire Forward,the members of the Polymer IRC's Industrial Club and the Materials KTN. If you would like to know more about sponsorship opportunities for 2008,contact Helen Clancy: Presentation abstracts from the 2007 meeting (PDF format 389kB) Poster abstracts from the 2007 meeting (PDF format 715kB)
UK Polymer Showcase 2006 - Materials by Design
The UK Polymer Showcase has once again proved a roaring success for the Polymer IRC and its associates. 200 delegates from industry and academia attended the event to hear of new developments in polymer science and soft nanotechnology. The afternoon session on managing technology and innovation proved very popular with the audience, giving them plenty to discuss over dinner. Under this year's title of “Materials by Design”, there were four major technical themes:
With 20 presentations, and over 50 posters. This year’s strategy session on the afternoon of Tuesday 12th September brought together an impressive collection of speakers including Professor Tony Cheetham from University of California, Santa Barbara, John Grasmeder and Terri Jordan of Victrex PLC, Ray Oliver from CENAMPS, Rick Mitchell, Cranfield and the writer and broadcaster Sue Nelson who will give their own perspectives on managing technology and innovation. In presenting the event the Polymer IRC worked closely with the Faraday Packaging Partnership, Faraday Plastics and Yorkshire Forward to ensure that the Showcase is accessible and the content is relevant to industrial participants. With representatives from large and small companies, the showcase helps particularly smaller companies network with representatives from larger organisations with major investments in polymers. There are 200 places at the Showcase meeting and non-club members are advised to book early to secure a place. Presentation abstracts from the 2006 meeting (PDF format 175kB) Poster abstracts from the 2006 meeting (PDF format 1.65MB) UK Polymer Showcase 2005
6/7 September 2005 - Cedar Court Hotel, Wakefield (J39, M1). Once again the UK Polymer Showcase attracted over 200 delegates, many of them from industry, with an interest in catching up on the latest technological developments in soft nanotechnology. Presentations from this meeting in PDF format are available to members within the Industrial Club section of this site Programme: Professor Tom McLeish, Welcome and Introduction Director, Polymer IRC Dr. Nigel Clarke, University of Durham Self-assembly of Polymer Composites Dr. Amalia Aggeli, University of Leeds Protein-like Self-assembly as the Route Towards Smart Polymers for Nanotechnology Dr. Andy Wilson, University of Leeds Hydrogen Bonding Building Blocks for Non-covalent Synthesis Professor Rudy Koopmans, Dow Benelux NV, Netherlands RD Challenges for the 21st Century: Sustainable Materials Professor Andrew Cooper, University of Liverpool Polymer Synthesis using Supercritical Fluid Solvents: How Green is Now? Dr. Alan Smith, DTI The Role of the UK MNT Network Professor Dame Julia Higgins, FRS, Imperial College, London Integrating the Four Ps Dr. Jim Darwent, Unilever Central Research Current and Future Applications of Polymers in Home and Personal Care Products Dr. Harald Egner, Fraunhofer TEG Fraunhofer - innovative routes to polymer processing Professor Markus Antonietti, University of Potsdam Functional Block Polymers for the Control of Nanostructure Materials Dr. Motohiro Seki, Mitsubishi Chemical Group Study on Shear-mediated Crystallization of iPP Dr. Tim Gough, University of Bradford In-process Measurements for Monitoring of Polymer Melt Flows Professor Tony Ryan, University of Sheffield Electrospinning of Micro and Nano-fibres for Tissue Engineering Professor Steve Armes, University of Sheffield Controlled-structure Biocompatible Block Copolymers Dr. Ben Punchard, Faraday Packaging Partnership Plastic in Packaging: All Wrapped UP? Professor Michael Turner, University of Manchester Organic Materials for Electronics Consortium (OMEC) The abstracts of the both oral and poster presentations are available below in PDF format (551kB download): Programme and abstracts for Polymer Showcase 2005 The Polymer IRC would like to thank Yorkshire Forward, Faraday Plastics and Faraday Packaging and the Industrial Club members for their help in organising and sponsoring the event. First UK Polymer Showcase
7/8 September 2004 - Cedar Court Hotel, Wakefield
The Polymer IRC presented the UK Polymers community with its first "Showcase" meeting on the 7th and 8th September at the Cedar Court Hotel in Wakefield. The meeting attracted an audience of 200 polymer academics and industrialists who enjoyed scientific talks on subjects ranging from polymers to aid wound healing to an account by Sebastian Conran of the challenges faced when designing with plastics. If you would like to review the meeting content please browse the abstracts PDF. The Polymer IRC would like to thank all the speakers and the members of the IRC Network who provided a splendid display of over 50 posters. We would also like to thank our partners who assisted us in both financial and practical ways in the organisation of the meeting. The abstracts of the both oral and poster presentations are available below in PDF format (1.8MB download): Programme and abstracts for the first Polymer Showcase
Photos: Above left: - the poster session. Left: delegates discussing polymer science topics at the dinner. Above right: the logos of the Showcase sponsors. |
|
|
|
|
© The Polymer IRC 2004, original design www.cookandkaye.co.uk / Webmaster
/ Disclaimer
/ Privacy The IRC includes the University of Bradford, the University of Durham, the University of Leeds and the University of Sheffield. | |
