Professor Patrick Fairclough
School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering
Professor of Polymer and Composite Engineering
+44 114 222 7798
Full contact details
School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering
Sir Frederick Mappin Building
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
- Profile
-
Professor Fairclough completed a BSc in Physics at the University of Birmingham in 1990 and then a PhD in Neutron Scattering graduating in 1995.
A postdoc in polymer science took him to UMIST in Manchester in 1994 (after briefly working as a service engineer) and the postdoc lasted until 1997 when he was recruited to the Department of Chemistry at the University of Sheffield.
In 2013 he took up the chair position in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
- Research interests
-
Patrick's research covers a wide variety of polymers, soft materials and composite systems and his research spans the fundamentals of the network structure of epoxy resins, as used in protective coatings, to novel mould-free manufacturing of carbon fibre composites.
The has projects including mould-free manufacturing, fibre splicing and tailored fibre placement. The mould-free work uses carbon black to create a conductive carbon composite that can be electrically cured and in the future can be developed to allow for the direct creation of composite parts from software without the use of conventional tooling.
The group also work on projects looking at thermoplastic composite materials and, in particular, systems that can be hydrolysed back to monomer species. The hydrolysis process takes place at high pressures and temperatures but with water as a solvent for the material. The group are working to develop this as a way of reusing recycled polymers, PET fibres from old bottles for example, to create recyclable structures.
They have had a long-standing interest in structural colour from using block copolymer mixtures as an easy way to create structural colour, to creating environmentally friendly replacements for TiO2. This work led them to study white beetle scales and to create a full 3D tomographic map of the scale by the use of synchrotron radiation at the ESRF in Grenoble France.
- Publications
-
Journal articles
- . Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics, 140.
- . Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 187, 108478-108478.
- . Procedia CIRP, 126, 475-480.
- . Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 209.
- . Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 185.
- . Advanced Materials, 36(20), e2209950.
- . Polymers, 14(16).
- . Macromolecular Research, 30(9), 609-614.
- . Additive Manufacturing, 58.
- . Wear, 498-499.
- . Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 154.
- . Polymers, 14(5).
- . Procedia CIRP, 103(2021), 176-181.
- . ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 3(7), 3438-3445.
- . Polymer Composites, 42(4), 1631-1647.
- . Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, 305(9).
- . Scientific Data, 7(1).
- . Advanced Composites Letters, 29.
- . Procedia CIRP, 85, 237-242.
- . Procedia CIRP, 85, 37-42.
- . Procedia CIRP, 85, 277-283.
- . Communications Chemistry, 2(1).
- . Materials, 12(21).
- . Macromolecules, 52(18), 6861-6867.
- . Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 119, 88-100.
- . Polymer Chemistry, 9(47), 5617-5629.
- . Metabolites, 8(4).
- . Royal Society Open Science, 5(9).
- . Interface, 15(141).
- . Langmuir, 33(46), 13303-13314.
- . Soft Matter, 12, 4709-4714.
- . Scientific Reports, 5.
- . Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 36(15), 1452-1452.
- . Review of Scientific Instruments, 86(2).
- . Langmuir, 29(11), 3628-3635.
- . Langmuir, 28(36), 12955-12961.
- . Langmuir, 28(30), 10997-11006.
- . Langmuir, 28(28), 10551-10557.
- . Macromolecules, 45(12), 5260-5272.
- . Langmuir, 27(19), 11801-11805.
- . Langmuir, 27(13), 8075-8089.
- . SOFT MATTER, 7(8), 3721-3725.
- . European Polymer Journal, 47(4), 447-464.
- . J POLYM SCI POL PHYS, 49(9), 621-628.
- . Phys Chem Chem Phys, 13(8), 3179-3186.
- . J Am Chem Soc, 133(4), 826-837.
- Monodisperse macromolecules - A stepping stone to understanding industrial polymers. European Polymer Journal.
- . MACROMOLECULES, 43(5), 2389-2405.
- . J Am Chem Soc, 132(7), 2166-2168.
- . CRYST GROWTH DES, 10(2), 988-994.
- . Packaging Technology and Science, 22(5), 303-310.
- . POLYMER, 49(21), 4475-4488.
- . MACROMOLECULES, 41(6), 1901-1904.
- . MACROMOLECULES, 41(3), 1034-1040.
- . IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 55(2), 729-733.
- . IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, 4, 2416-2420.
- . Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A Accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment, 580(3), 1526-1535.
- . Polymer International, 55(7), 793-797.
- . J Agric Food Chem, 54(12), 4077-4081.
- . Biomacromolecules, 7(4), 1124-1130.
- . REACT FUNCT POLYM, 66(1), 41-49.
- . Journal of Macromolecular Science Physics, 44 B(6), 1087-1102.
- . J Agric Food Chem, 53(20), 7997-8002.
- . Biomacromolecules, 5(3), 942-949.
- . Polymer, 45(12), 4121-4131.
- . POLYMER, 44(22), 6843-6850.
- . MACROMOLECULES, 36(10), 3656-3665.
- . LANGMUIR, 19(4), 1075-1081.
- . Annual Reports on the Progress of Chemistry Section C, 99, 243-276.
- . Faraday Discuss, 122, 343-361.
- Bulk morphology and micellization of poly (diene)-poly (ethylene oxide) diblock copolymers in water. POLYMER, 43(25), 7155-7160.
- . MACROMOLECULES, 35(18), 6937-6945.
- . MACROMOLECULES, 35(12), 4838-4840.
- . MACROMOLECULES, 35(9), 3614-3621.
- Chain folding in block copolymers crystallized from solution. American Chemical Society Polymer Preprints Division of Polymer Chemistry, 43(1), 223-224.
- . Fibre Diffraction Review, 10(10), 63-63.
- . Europhysics Letters, 53(5), 680-686.
- Aqueous mesophases of block copolymers of ethylene oxide and 1,2-butylene oxide. PHYS CHEM CHEM PHYS, 3(15), 2972-2980.
- Ordered melts of block copolymers of ethylene oxide and 1,2-butylene oxide. PHYS CHEM CHEM PHYS, 3(15), 2961-2971.
- Crystallization in block copolymer melts: Small soft structures that template larger hard structures. J CHEM PHYS, 114(12), 5425-5431.
- Microphase separation in oxyethylene/oxybutylene copolymers with diblock and triblock architectures. MACROMOL RAPID COMM, 21(14), 964-967.
- . MACROMOLECULES, 33(14), 5124-5130.
- . Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2(7), 1503-1507.
- Correlation of lattice deformation with macroscopic strain for the hexagonal-packed cylinder phase of a triblock copolymer. POLYMER, 41(7), 2577-2582.
- Scattering study of nucleation phenomena in homopolymer melts.. ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S, 218, U677-U677.
- Processing and properties of thin block copolymer films.. ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S, 218, U567-U567.
- Equilibrium chain folding in semicrystalline block copolymers in the bulk and in thin films.. ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S, 218, U579-U580.
- Microphase separation behavior in di- and triblock copolymers: Confirmation of the universality of chi.. ABSTR PAP AM CHEM S, 218, U519-U519.
- . Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 56(1-2), 159-173.
- Equilibrium chain folding in semi-crystalline block copolymers in the bulk and in thin films. American Chemical Society Polymer Preprints Division of Polymer Chemistry, 40(2), 1022-1023.
- Lamellar-to-gyroid transition in a poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) diblock copolymer melt. PHYS CHEM CHEM PHYS, 1(9), 2097-2101.
- Chain length dependence of the mean field temperature in poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) diblock copolymers. PHYS CHEM CHEM PHYS, 1(9), 2093-2095.
- Diblock copoly(oxyethylene/oxybutylene) E41B8 in water: Liquid-crystal mesophases studied by small-angle X-ray scattering. MACROMOLECULES, 32(6), 2058-2060.
- Processing and properties of thin block copolymer films. American Chemical Society Polymer Preprints Division of Polymer Chemistry, 40(2).
- A scattering study of nucleation phenomena in polymer crystallisation. FARADAY DISCUSS, 112(112), 13-29.
- Chain folding in poly(epsilon-caprolactone) studied by small-angle X-ray scattering and Raman spectroscopy. A strategy for blending in the crystalline state. J MATER CHEM, 9(5), 1059-1063.
- A shear induced transition of lamellar alignment in a concentrated diblock copolymer solution. POLYMER, 40(20), 5709-5714.
- . Fibre Diffraction Review, 8(8), 12-12.
- Microphase separation in poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) diblock copolymers. MACROMOLECULES, 31(23), 8110-8116.
- A study of lyotropic mesophases of concentrated solutions of a triblock copolymer of ethylene oxide and 1,2-butylene oxide, E16B10E16, using rheometry, polarized light microscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering. LANGMUIR, 14(20), 5782-5789.
- A scattering study of nucleation phenomena in homopolymer melts. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, 216, U895-U895.
- . Macromolecules, 31(17), 5702-5716.
- Shear-induced orientational transitions in the body-centered cubic phase of a diblock copolymer gel. MACROMOLECULES, 31(12), 3906-3911.
- . Review of Scientific Instruments, 69(5), 2114-2117.
- Effect of shear on cubic phases in gels of a diblock copolymer. J CHEM PHYS, 108(16), 6929-6936.
- Orientational ordering of a poly( oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) diblock copolymer gel under steady shear flow. MACROMOLECULES, 31(9), 2952-2956.
- . Macromolecules, 31(4), 1188-1196.
- . Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology, 13(1-3), 27-30.
- . Polymer, 39(6-7), 1429-1437.
- . Polymer, 39(11), 2381-2385.
- Shear-induced orientational order in the hexagonal phase of oxyethylene/oxybutylene diblock copolymer gels. POLYMER, 39(20), 4891-4896.
- Crystal thicknesses in semicrystalline oxyethylene/oxybutylene block copolymers by atomic force microscopy and SAXS. POLYMER, 39(15), 3321-3326.
- . Fibre Diffraction Review, 7(7), 50-50.
- . Liquid Crystals, 22(6), 679-684.
- Chain folding in semicrystalline oxyethylene/oxybutylene diblock copolymers. MACROMOLECULES, 30(26), 8392-8400.
- . Macromolecules, 30(21), 6674-6676.
- . Macromolecules, 30(19), 5721-5728.
- . Macromolecules, 30(6), 1723-1727.
- . Fibre Diffraction Review, 6(6), 38-38.
- . Macromolecules, 29(27), 8835-8843.
- . Macromolecules, 29(19), 6212-6221.
- . Macromolecules, 29(18), 5955-5964.
- . Macromolecules, 29(15), 5091-5098.
- . Science, 271(5251), 976-978.
- . Polymer, 37(19), 4425-4429.
- . Phys Rev B Condens Matter, 49(9), 5911-5917.
- . Zeitschrift f羹r Physikalische Chemie, 1(1), 297-303.
- . Journal of Applied Physics, 69(8), 5774-5776.
- . Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 281(1-2), 323-330.
- . Scientific Reports, 15(1).
Book chapters
- , Organic and Hybrid Photonic Crystals (pp. 127-143). Springer International Publishing
- , Amphiphilic Block Copolymers (pp. 151-167). Elsevier
Conference proceedings
- 3D characterisation of local deformation and damage development in tailored fibre placement-manufactured composites under tensile loading. Proceedings of SAMPE Europe 24, Vol. 2 (pp 1050-1058). Belfast, Northern Ireland, 24 September 2024 - 24 September 2024.
- 3D characterisation of the tensile failure of CFRPS manufactured through tailored fibre placement. Proceedings of the 2023 International Conference on Composite Materials. Belfast, United Kingdom, 30 July 2023 - 30 July 2023.
- 3D characterisation of the tensile failure of CFRPs manufactured through tailored fibre placement. Proceedings of the 2023 International Conference on Composite Materials. Belfast, Northern Ireland, 30 July 2023 - 30 July 2023.
- Incremental Forming of Composites: A Mould Free Future. Iccm International Conferences on Composite Materials
- . 2019 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics (SMC) (pp 391-396), 6 October 2019 - 9 October 2019.
- . 2019 24th IEEE International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA) (pp 1461-1465), 10 September 2019 - 13 September 2019.
- Synthesis and analysis of photodegradable polyurethanes with poly (propylene glycol) and nitro-benzene derivatives. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 258
- Influence of laser power on morphology and properties of laser-sintered UHMWPE. Solid Freeform Fabrication 2016 Proceedings of the 27th Annual International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium an Additive Manufacturing Conference Sff 2016 (pp 814-833)
- The specific work of flow as a universal parameter to control the formation of shish-kebab morphology in polymers. XVTH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON RHEOLOGY - THE SOCIETY OF RHEOLOGY 80TH ANNUAL MEETING, PTS 1 AND 2, Vol. 1027 (pp 496-498)
- Opalescent coatings from block copolymers: Enhanced refractive index and curing. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Vol. 230 (pp U3610-U3610)
- . JOURNAL OF MACROMOLECULAR SCIENCE-PHYSICS, Vol. B43(1) (pp 71-93)
- . JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY, Vol. 13(11) (pp 2740-2748)
- A double area detector system for simultaneous small and wide-angle X-ray scattering. NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS & METHODS IN PHYSICS RESEARCH SECTION A-ACCELERATORS SPECTROMETERS DETECTORS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT, Vol. 477(1-3) (pp 329-334)
- Lamellar phases and microemulsions in model ternary blends containing amphiphilic block copolymers. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY, Vol. 11(11) (pp 2864-2874)
- A scattering study of nucleation phenomena in homopolymer melts. SCATTERING FROM POLYMERS, Vol. 739 (pp 201-217)
- . Zeitschrift f羹r Physikalische Chemie, Vol. 179(1-2) (pp 281-287)
- . World Congress on Mechanical, Chemical, and Material Engineering, 16 August 2018 - 18 August 2018.
Patents
- Copolymer Blends, Light Reflective Films Comprising the Same and Methods for their preparation and use. GB1013274.4 Appl. 01 Jan 1970.
- SELF-ASSEMBLING BLOCK COPOLYMER FILM. GB 0506362.3 Appl. 01 Jan 1970.
- Film composites. 2000-GB1156; 2000058760 Appl. 01 Jan 1970.
- Kit of block copolymers exhibiting temperature-dependent adhesion and release properties. GB3870, 2002020688 Appl. 01 Jan 1970.
- Grants
-
- Soft Nanotechnology November 2007 to October 2012; 瞿796,000 with Prof. Richard A. L. Jones (Pl), Prof. Anthony J. Ryan, Prof. Mark Geoghegan, Prof. David Lidzey
- EPSRC KTA KickStart Funding Biologics October 2011 to June 2012, 瞿1116,000 with Prof. Richard Ross, Prof. Nigel Clark, and Prof. Peter Artumuik
- The Effects of Poilydispersity on Self Assembly in Block Copolymers: February 2007 to October 2010 瞿254,000 with Prof. Sebastien Perrier (Sydney), Prof Mark Matsen (Reading)
- The Microscale Polymer Procesing Consortium for Macromolecular Engineering (MuPP ii): Toolbox Development and Application March 2005 - March 2009 瞿815,000 Prof. Anthony J. Ryan, Dr Ellen Heeley collaboration as part of the larger MuPP ii grant with Prof. Tom C. B. McLeish (Pl), Dr R. Alan Duckett, Dr Oliver G. Harlen, Prof. Peter Hine, Prof. Pete Jimack, Prof. Alexei Likhtman, Dr Helen J Wilson, Prof. Phil D. Coates, Prof. Malcolm Mackley, Dr Lian R. Hutchings, Dr Nigel Clarke, Prof. C Paul Buckley
- Accelerated Discovery for New Organic Semiconductors November 2004 to October 2007, 瞿234,000 Prof. Mick Turner and Dr Martin Grell
- Teaching interests
-
- MEC132: Matter Flow and Energy (Thermofluids)
- MEC406:: Engineering Composite Materials (Solids)
Links