| MERL Technical Staff |
 |
|
Dr Bob Campion
BSc, PhD, CEng, FIMMM
Principal Specialist |
|
| Author of more than 50 scientific and technical publications on elastomers,
thermoplastics, cured rubber/metal & rubber/rubber bonding, autoadhesive
tack, rubber compounding, polymer durability in fluids, and high pressure
gas permeation and diffusion. Previously senior member of the scientific
staff at Dunlop Research Centre/Technology Division for 25 years, subsequently
with
a period at MRPRA. Served as Committee member of the Polymer Science
Group of the Institute of Materials (IOM) and Chairman of IOM Polymers
in Extreme Environments conferences. Special research interests, normally
applied
to the Offshore Oil Production or Automotive industries, include high pressure
gas permeation & diffusion through elastomers and thermoplastics, fuel
permeation, fluid/polymer compatibility & ageing issues, polymer structure/property
relationships, novel compounding approaches, and adhesion bonding. |
 |
|
Peter Skinner
Principal Technologist |
|
| Rubber technology training and more than 40 years experience of rubber
processing and test piece and prototype preparation for the rubber industry. |
 |
|
Tracy Elms
Senior Technologist |
|
| Experience with a wide range of standard tests of rubber. Particular
expertise with fatigue testing of rubber materials. |
 |
|
Glyn Morgan
BSc (Hons) Chemistry
Senior Polymer Chemist |
|
| Senior project scientist with expertise in physical chemistry of polymers
and related tests for fluid diffusion, high pressure gas permeation etc.
Highly experienced in handling and applying hostile chemical fluids and
assessing their effect on polymer characteristics and service life. Previous
experience in materials testing at Thorn EMI |
 |
|
Peter Hansen
MSc Automotive Engineering Design, Manufacture and
Management
Senior Engineer |
|
| Senior Engineer responsible for international business development in the
automotive (including motorsport) and rail industries. Project Manager
for industry and public-funded (UK and EU) consortium projects as well
as single client bespoke research and development projects. Expertise in
automotive and rail engineering, test development and implementation, mechanical
testing of materials and components in single and multi-axis, testing of
components using service-load data inputs (CRPC), failure analysis, life
extension studies, fatigue and environmental testing and independent production
inspections. On the finance committee of a local charity and a school governor. |
 |
|
Colin Harrison
BSc (Hons) Materials Engineering
Senior Project Engineer |
|
| Senior project engineer with materials testing and data analysis expertise.
15 years experience as development engineer for new projects at Rolls
Royce Aero Engines. Special experience with instrumentation, vibration
testing, data acquisition and analysis. Development of novel mechanical
testing apparatus
for bespoke projects. Currently involved in the standardisation of testing
for adhesive systems. Deputy Quality Manager responsible for maintaining
company registration to BS/EN/ISO 9001. |
 |
|
Dr Barry Thomson
BSc, PhD Polymer Chemistry
Principal Scientist |
|
| Senior polymer chemist with wide-ranging experience of polymeric materials
and their use in demanding applications, particularly in the offshore oil & gas
sector. Current interests include evaluation of polymer durability and compatibility
in severe environments, gas decompression effects in thermoplastics, elastomer
bonding and test development. |
 |
|
Keith Potterill
BTEC (HNC) Chemistry
Senior Technologist |
|
| Experience in a range of standard tests for rubber, composites and adhesives.
Performed fatigue tests on rubber and composite materials using servohydraulic
test equipment. Previously worked as chemical and physical test analyst
at Hexcel Composites. |
 |
|
Dr Michael Lewan
BSc PhD Rubber Blends
Senior Polymer Chemist |
|
| Research polymer chemist with twelve years experience of rubber compounding,
which includes analysis and formulation of new compounds to produce commercially
viable products that adhere to specific requirements. Also work on high
pressure gas permeation of polymers, explosive decompression of polymers
and failure studies of gaskets. Current interests include the production
of processable low temperature cure (PLTC) rubber compounds for industry. |
 |
|
Stephen Bowron
MEng (Hons) Aeronautical Engineering
Senior Engineer |
|
| Project engineer with experience working with both composite materials
and elastomers. Awarded a 3-year industrial fellowship from the
Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851. Areas of work at MERL
include mechanical test development, finite element analysis and the development
of test instrumentation and data
acquisition systems. Experienced programmer using NI LabVIEW. |
 |
|
Richard Ward
HND Electronic Engineering
Principal Technologist |
|
| Test Engineer with 20 years experience of testing materials,prototype
and full size components. Specialising in the use of servohydraulic test
machines and design of associated test fixtures. Experience in the design
and commissioning of specialised test rigs and the manufacture of specialised
components. Has performed on site inspections/witnessing for 3rd parties. |
 |
|
Dr Salim Mirza
BE, MS, PhD (Mechanical Engineering)
Principal Scientist |
|
| Principal finite element analyst with wide ranging experience in the areas
of high strain-rate and impact analysis of metals, thermomechanical processing
of metals and polymers, and fracture modelling. Advanced user of finite
element codes DYNA3D, ABAQUS and ANSYS. Experienced in mechanical testing
of metals
and polymers. Current interests include developing constitutive models
for polymers, modelling of thermomechanical processes, crack growth and
fatigue analysis of elastomers. |
 |
|
Dr Keyur Somani
BSc, PhD (Polymer Chemistry)
Scientist |
|
| Polymer chemist having experience in synthesis and characterization
of resins including polyurethanes, epoxies and polyesters. Work has involved
the analysis and formulation of new products. Other relevant experiences
are in coatings & adhesives and thermal insulation for sub sea applications.
Presently involved in HP/HT testing of materials for the oil and gas industry. |
 |
|
Dr Nickie Smith
BSc, PhD Chemical Engineering (Polymers)
Senior Scientist |
|
| Senior scientist with a chemical physics background and expertise in
structure property relationships in polymer blends. Other relevant experience
includes life prediction of polymers, diffusion studies and adhesives. Previously
worked for the government owned research agency QinetiQ formerly DERA (Defence,
Evaluation and Research Agency). |
 |
|
Dr Morris Roseman
BSc MSc DIC PhD CEng MIMMM
Senior Scientist |
|
| Senior Scientist with a background in the automotive, aerospace and rail
industries. Morris specialises in composite materials, structural adhesive
bonding and thermoplastics (used in the high volume automotive industry),
and has a special interest in nanotechnology. He is active in the wider materials
arena having taken part in a European DTI Global Watch Mission to investigate
commercialisation of nanotechnology, and has presented papers at numerous
conferences. Morris is an ex Board member of the Nanotechnology Industries
Association, and currently sits on the organising committee of a lean weight
vehicles conference. |
 |
|
Phil Clarke
BSc
Scientist and Quality Manager |
|
| Principal Technologist with 20 years of material/component testing
experience including; test jig/fixture design, elevated temperature and
environmental creep, rupture and fatigue testing of metals, mechanical
and
internal pressure testing of polymeric pipe and fittings. Quality Assurance
role as Quality Manager. Graduated in 2004 with BSc (open) achieved
through study with the Open University. |
 |
|
Dr Stefanos Giannis
Dipl. Ing., MSc, PhD (Mechanical Engineering), ProfGradIMMM
Scientist |
|
| Scientist with wide research experience on the mechanical and physical behaviour
of aircraft fuel tank sealants. Carried out research work under a 3.5 years
AIRBUS sponsorship that emphasized on the peel performance of fuel tank sealants
towards optimization of industry testing specifications. Previous experience
includes testing and modelling work on composites and polymers. Currently
involved in project work on fracture mechanics of adhesives, composite materials
and structures. |
 |
|
Jeanne Pouquet
MSc Advanced Materials, MEng Biomechanics / Biomaterials
Scientist |
|
Scientist with a dual background in Materials and Biomedical Engineering.
Specialised in surface science and in wear/friction problems. Other relevant
experiences include adhesion testing for coatings, welding, and improving
materials performance for industrial applications and medical devices.
Experience working on international projects. Fluent in French.
|
