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School of Materials

Environmental Degradation and Materials Protection by Coatings

Using state-of-the-art facilities, the Group is focusing its extensive expertise on tailored coatings for protection against environmental degradation of light alloys, steels, cement, mortars and stones, with a focus on the vulnerability of the coating and especially the substrate/coating interface to corrosion-induced degradation and chemical damage. Failure mechanisms have been determined by correlation of macroscopic chemical, structural and mechanical properties with those of the interface, utilising controlled, but realistic, exposure tests. Electrochemical impedance and scanning electrode methods allow in situ probing, e.g. water uptake and diffusion at the polymer/substrate boundary. Mechanistic relationships between adhesion, disbonding, interfacial chemistry and performance have been developed. The latter are investigated using a multi-analytical approach with molecular characterisation, spatially resolved XPS and nanowear. Successful organic solution-phase and low-pressure plasma deposited pretreatments, with controlled surface chemistry, have been developed, as well as multilayered and superlattice PVD coatings, with closely controlled microstructures, to replace hard and decorative electroplates.

Currently active research areas include:

Atmospheric Degradation of Materials

Atmospheric corrosion and environmental degradation processes are ubiquitous and result in significant costs throughout the world. Tailored coatings are being studied for materials protection against environmental degradation of light metals, steels, cements, mortars and stones.  The research focuses on the vulnerability of the coatings and especially the coating interface to corrosion-induced degradation and chemical damage. Further, models are being developed of atmospheric corrosion mechanisms of alloys, and influences on corrosion rates of environmental parameters, for instance salt deposition and pollutants.

Principal Investigators

Research Areas

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