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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/L97469/01
Title: NEW AND ENHANCED POLYMER-MATRIX COMPOSITE ROOF TILES
Principal Investigator: Johnson, Professor AF
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Pre Nexus Migration
Department: Sch of Chemistry
Organisation: University of Leeds
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 April 1998 Ends: 31 March 2000 Value (£): 146,509
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Civil Engineering Materials Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Polyester-matrix compoites are increasingly used for roof cladding but there has been little research directed towards the specific materials requirements for this type of application. A major thrust will be to find new improved materials. Particular attention will be given to a new class of dicyclopentadiene-based resin systems which should give rise to high performance low-cost products. The polymerisation behaviour of these new resins will be explored by calorimetric, spectroscopic and chromatographic methods giving attention to the cure rates in relation to desired cycle time with existing manufacturing technology.An aim will be to optimise the cure process for new materials using thermal -analyrical methods for cure kinetics studies and by compiuter modelling of the moulding process and molecular compositional features of the prepolymers used. Comparisons will be made with the cure behaviour of existing materials and processes. The physical/mechanical properties will be established for both existing and new matrix systems. Data will also be generated for samples exposed to limited artificial ageing, in order to provide an initial assessment of the long-term behaviour of the products. Finally, the feasibility of establishing a continuous manufacturing process for new and existing materials will be examined.
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Organisation Website: http://www.leeds.ac.uk