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Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology

Research

Instruments

As one of the Department's technical officers, I am responsible for managing and maintaining the a variety of analytical instruments. One of the principle areas of research that I am involved with is rheology and materials processing. I am in charge of the Department's Rheology Centre, which includes a number of different instruments for investigating rheological behaviour:

  • MultiPass Rheometer (MPR) - This is a unique double piston capillary rheometer developed by Professor Mackley. This rheometer can be used in conjunction with both optical birefringence and X-ray.
  • Cambridge Shearing System (CSS) - This is a optical microscope stage that consists of two parallel glass plates. The bottom plate can be rotated allowing visual observation of a sample while it is sheared. The CSS was developed by Professor Mackley and is manufactured by Linkam Scientific Instruments.
  • ARES - This is a controlled strain rheometer. There is a small charge for its use by researchers from the university.
  • Kinexus Lab+ - This is a controlled stress rheometer. There is a small charge for its use by university researchers.
  • Piezo Axial Vibrator (PAV) - This is a special rheometer for studying the dynamic rheological behaviour of low viscosity fluids at high frequencies (up to 10,000 Hz). There is a small charge for its use by university researchers.

Biography

Academic career

From 2019, Chemical Laboratory Manager within the Department

From 2000, Technical Officer within the Department

1983-1986, PhD, Dept. of Ceramics, Glasses and Polymers, University of Sheffield.

1979-1982, BSc, Chemistry with Polymer Science and Technology, University of Lancaster.

Teaching and Supervisions

Research supervision: 

Training and Teaching

I am happy to train undergraduate, postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers to use the different instruments that I manage. I am also involved in the supervision of student research projects and provide assistance and advice on experimental design and the interpretation of rheological data. I supervise the Department's Part I Chemical Engineering laboratory classes, which run during the Michaelmas and Lent terms.

Chemical Laboratory Manager
Senior Technical Officer: Rheology Centre
Simon Butler

Contact Details

01223 (3)34766
Email address: