Dr Richard Day

Dr Day obtained his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of London. He then moved to Manchester and after three years working on composite interfaces as a postdoctoral research assistant he was then appointed a lecturer in 1989. Since then he has worked on polymer matrix and ceramic matrix composites. Currently his major focus is on rapid processing of polymer composites using a variety of approaches. One of these is the use of microwave heating to rapidly cure thermosetting resins. This research has three main areas: to develop improved, rapid curing techniques for polymer composites, to evaluate the properties of the composites made and to develop the analytical techniques required to understand the processes that occur during microwave heating. He is currently establishing the hub and research activities of the Northwest Composites Centre.

• Development of new moulding materials for microwave assisted resin transfer moulding
• Development of a microwave heated injection moulder
• Structure and properties of microwave processed urethane acrylate/vinyl ester blends
• Microwave assisted vacuum bagging of carbon fibre composites
• Microwave techniques for the production of polymer foams
• Comparison of techniques for rapid manufacture of carbon/epoxy laminates
• Temperature measurements in model epoxy systems during microwave heating using Raman spectroscopy

• Development of a microwave calorimeter for simultaneous thermal analysis, infrared spectroscopy and dielectric measurements, A. Nesbitt, P. Navabpour, C. Nightingale and R.J. Day, Measurement Science and Technology, 15, 1 (2004)
• Curable Dielectric Polynorbornene Composition and Circuit Boards made therefrom, A.K. Wood, R.J. Day, M.A. Williams, D. Hall and C. Stockil, International Patent WO 2004/081079 A1 (2004)
• Comparison of Microwave and thermal cure of unsaturated polyester resin A.R. Rahmat and R.J. Day, Plastics, Rubber and Composites, 32(6), 257-264 (2003)
• Comparison between thermal and microwave curing of a bismaleimide resin I. Zainol, R.J. Day and F. Heatley, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 90(10) 2764-2774 (2003)
• Flexural and interlaminar shear strength properties of carbon fibre/epoxy composites cured thermally and with microwave radiation C. Nightingale and R.J. Day, Composites A, 33, 1021 (2002)
• Investigation into the Mouldability of Angle-interlock Woven Fabrics for Technical Applications X. Chen, W-Y Lo, A.E. Tayyar and R.J. Day Textile Research Journal, 72(3), 195 (2002)
• Surface modification and its effect upon interfacial properties of model aramid fibre/epoxy composites.
• R.J. Day, K.D. Hewson and P.A. Lovell. Composites Science and Technology, 62(2), 153 (2002)
• Thermal and Mechanical Characterisation of Epoxy Resins Toughened Using Pre-formed Particles, R.J. Day, P.A. Lovell and A.A. Wazzan. Polymer International,50(8), 849 (2001)
• Microwave Techniques for Polymer foams. 4th World Congress on Microwave and Radio Frequency Applications, Austin, Texas, 6-10th November 2004 A.E.S. Clarke, R.J. Day, G.L.A. Sims and Z. Wu
• Microwave and Conventional Mechanical and Thermal Analysis of the Reactions in Epoxy Vinyl Ester Resin. 4th World Congress on Microwave and Radio Frequency Applications, Austin, Texas, 6-10th November 2004. R. Gunaratne, A. Nesbitt and, R.J. Day
• The Effect of Microwave Curing on the Structure and Properties of Polymer Resins and their Blends 4th World Congress on Microwave and Radio Frequency Applications, Austin, Texas, 6-10th November 2004 W. Petchuay and R.J. Day
• Microwave curing of an epoxy resin system: A comparison between two different microwave applicators and heating methods Proceedings 4th World Congress on Microwave and Radio Frequency Applications, Austin, Texas, 6-10th November 2004 B. Degamber, G.F. Fernando, P. Navabpour, A. Nesbitt and R.J. Day
• Microwave Techniques for Polymer foams. 4th World Congress on Microwave and Radio Frequency Applications, Austin, Texas A.E.S. Clarke, R.J. Day, G.L.A. Sims and Z. Wu
• Microwave assisted resin transfer moulding of carbon/epoxy composites, 9th International Conference on Microwave and Radio Frequency Heating, 2-5th September 2003, AMPERE R. Yusoff, A. Nesbitt, J.M. Methven and R.J. Day
• Microwave curing of matrimid 5292A bismalimide resin, R.J.Day and I.Zainol 3rd World Congress on Microwave and Radio Frequency Applications, Sydney, Australia, 22-26th September 2002
• Effect of microwave processing upon the chemical reaction path in amine and acid cured epoxy resins R.J. Day, A. Nesbitt, D.R. Suckley, Y. Katakura, F. Heatley, M.Wallace and D. Attwood 3rd World Congress on Microwave and Radio Frequency Applications, Sydney, Australia, 22-26th September 2002