The Coatings and Surface Engineering (CSE) research group at the University of Nottingham is the largest thermal and cold spray research group in the UK. We host the UK's Centre of Excellence in Advanced Ceramic Coatings. The centre currently hosts a 5 Year EPSRC Fellowship on Ceramic Coatings (2021-26). Find out more about the EPSRC Fellowship here.
How our work is transforming the Aerospace industry can be found here.
We carry out fundamental and applied research into various coatings and surface engineering technologies, including Suspension Plasma Spray, Solution Precursor Plasma Spray, High Velocity Oxy-Fuel Spray, High and Low Pressure Cold Spray, Aerosol Deposition, Spray based additive manufacturing, Chemical Vapour Deposition and Physical Vapour Deposition. Processing-microstructure-properties relationships of metallic, ceramic and cermet coatings are at the core of our research. Our research is aimed at achieving Netzero, materials circularity and sustainable materials processing for a better world.
Our research broadly addresses the following sectors:
- Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBCs) and Environmental Barrier Coatings (EBCs) for next generation of Aerospace Propulsion
- Dielectric coatings for electrification of aerospace propulsion
- Functional materials, such as thermoelectric and Metamaterials
- Biomedical and bioactive coatings for bone integration
- High temperature deposit induced corrosion of coatings and alloys in extreme operating environment, including state of the art CMAS and steam recession facilities
- Tribology and wear of coatings from room to 1000 C in sliding wear
- Additive Manufacturing and Repair of Ni-superalloys, precipitation hardenable alloys (Al) using Cold Gas Dynamic Spray
Research themes
The Coatings and Surface Engineering research team is multi-disciplinary in nature and cuts across several research themes in physics, chemistry, advanced materials and manufacturing engineering. We work closely with Advanced Materials Research Group.
Our research can be broadly classified into distinctive themes:
We work across all Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) to deliver bespoke solutions for advanced manufacturing tasks.
Suspension HVOF spraying
Suspension high velocity oxy-fuel spraying of 200 nm alumina in water suspension. UTP Topgun is producing coatings for extreme wear.
News
- Latest publication on alumina coatings
- Description
- Tunji Owoseni work on SHVOF deposition of metastable d-? Al2O3 nanometric feedstock, along with phase transformation during heat treatment and unlubricated sliding wear performance, were recently published on Surface and Coatings Technology. High quality Al2O3 coatings were produced with a rather low cost. Congratulations to Tunji and the rest of the team involved.
- Date:
- 13/09/2018
- Video on Liam Reddy's work
- Description
- Click here to see a new video by Liam Reddy explaining his research on iron based coatings for biomass fireside corrosion.
- Date:
- 13/09/2018
- Neutron experiments at ISIS
- Description
- Two neutron experiment proposals got accepted in the last open call at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, providing an opportunity for exciting new results.Tunji Owoseni led the work on the granted proposal for the measurement of strains within thermal sprayed coatings using neutron diffraction at the ENGIN-X instrument. These experiments will provide information on the different compressive and tensile regions within the system, allowing to better understand the residual stress on multi-layered structures, with a deep implication on life estimation and failure prevention. Meanwhile, Daniel Tejero-Martin will open a new line of investigation within the group with the application of Spin-Echo Small-Angle Scattering (SESANS) to porous coatings. The experiment, to take place at the Larmor instrument, will make use of the different scattering experienced by polarised neutrons as they travel through the material, encountering pores. It will allow the team to study in real space structures with sizes in the range of 0.2 to 20 microns.
- Date:
- 04/09/2018
- Dr Venturi joins our team
- Description
- A new addition to the CME team, Dr Federico Venturi joined us as a Research Fellow in Energy Materials. Dr Venturi has a PhD in Physics and Nanosciences from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy). He has worked on materials synthesis and characterisation, nanofabrication, and has an extensive expertise on transmission electron microscopy. He will be working on developing graphene-based nanocomposite coatings for ultra-low wear applications
- Date:
- 12/07/2018
- ITSC Best Paper Award 2018
- Description
- Mr. Bo Song has received the Best Paper Award at the International Thermal Spray Conference (ITSC) 2018 at Orlando, Florida, USA for his paper "Hydrophobicity of Suspension HVOF sprayed rare earth oxide ceramic coatings"
- Date:
- 06/07/2018
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