Research Scholarships 2020, Swansea University, UK

Start date: October 2020

Subject areas: Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering

Project description:

Roller coating is the dominant method which industry uses to annually coat many thousands of kilometres to form pre painted panels for the construction and white good industries. While productive, there exist opportunities for the development of novel deposition techniques. The project aims to develop the understanding of the slot die and curtain coating processes to allow it to deposit a high viscosity solvent based coating for the steel industry. The processes potentially offer a more repeatable and controlled means of depositing the paint, while also allowing smoother surfaces, shorter changeover times between colours, multi-layer wet on wet coating and reduced operator exposure to VOCs.

The project will require a combination of numerical modelling and laboratory experimental practice to explore the operational window of the slot die and curtain coating process. Research activities will include material characterization, process modelling (CFD and data fitting), literature searches, experimental rig design, coating trials and coated product appraisal. The project is a research collaboration between the Swansea University’s College of Engineering and TATA Steel research and development. The primary location of the research will be the SPECIFIC laboratories on the Swansea University Bay campus, with additional opportunity for larger scale work at the nearby SPECIFIC pilot line facility in Baglan. The student will be part of a successful group of around 20 individuals working on the coating of steel products. There student will be expected to work closely with the industrial partner, making use of TATA’s laboratory capabilities where required in the project. There will be an opportunity to attend international conferences and an expectation of publications in international journals.

Project supervisors: Dr Eifion Jewell (primary), Professor Trystan Watson (second) and Dr Sreedhara Sarma (Industrial)

Candidates should hold a minimum of an upper second class (2:1) honours degree (or its equivalent) in Mechanical/Chemical Engineering or similar discipline.

Familiarity with modelling and experience in experimental work involving liquid coatings would be beneficial.

We would normally expect the academic and English Language requirements (IELTS 6.5 overall with 5.5+ in each component) to be met by point of application. 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to UK/EU candidates only (EU nationals are required to be ordinarily resident in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the start of the scholarship).

For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.