UK Polymer Colloids Forum

Dr. Alex Routh

Lecturer in Chemical Engineering

Cambridge University
BP Institute
Madingley Rise
Madingley Road
Cambridge
CB3 0EZ
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 1223 765718
Fax: +44 (0) 1223 765701
e-mail: afr10@cam.ac.uk

Polymer Colloids Research Interests and Expertise

Film Formation

• Modelling of drying behaviour.
• Cracking in thin films.
• Surfactant distribution and banding.

Functionalized colloids.

• Synthetic methods for the modification of the surface of polymer of colloids.
• Colloids as supports for catalysis (including biotransformations).
• Molecular imprinting of colloids.
• Crosslinking/chain extension.
• Colloids with outer shells that can change conformation on applying a stimulus (SMART colloids).

Microgels.

• Encapsulation with swellable shells.
• Structure - property relationships for different swelling stages.

Aggregation.

• Interactions between biological systems.
• Stabilisation / aggregation mechanisms for bacteria.

Facilities Available

Zeta potential measurements	Photon correlation spectroscopy
Laser diffraction	Microscopy
Streaming potential	Impact testing