The University of Sheffield
Department of Chemistry

Image of Patrick FaircloughDr. J. Patrick A. Fairclough

Reader in Polymer Chemistry

Room: D50

Tel: +44-(0)114-22-29411

Fax: +44-(0)114-22-29436

email:

 


 

General  Research Teaching

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Fairclough obtained a BSc in Physics from the University of Birmingham in 1990, which was followed by a PhD from the same institution in 1994. From 1994-1997 he was a  Postdoctoral Researcher at UMIST. In 1997 he became a Lecturer at the University in Sheffield, where he is currently a Reader.

Research Keywords

Self-assembly, Small Angle X-ray Scattering,(SAXS) Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS), Block Copolymers, Non-ionic surfactants, Polymers and macromolecules, Gas diffusion in polymer films. High Throughput methodologies and metrology, Quasi-elastic Neutron scattering (QENS)

Teaching Keywords

Physical Chemistry

Selected Publications:

  • Unexpected Facile Redistribution of Adsorbed Silica Nanoparticles Between Latexes, J. A. Balmer, O. O. Mykhaylyk, J. P. A. Fairclough, A. J. Ryan, S. P. Armes, M. W. Murray, K. A. Murray and N. S. J. Williams, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 2166–2168.
  • Control of Structural Morphology in Shear-Induced Crystallization of Polymers, O. O. Mykhaylyk, P. Chambon, C. Impradice, J. P. A. Fairclough, N. J. Terrill and A. J. Ryan, Macromolecules 2010, 43, 2389-2405.
  • Influence of Ultra-High Pressure Sterilization on the Structure of Polymer Films, J. P. A. Fairclough and M. Conti, Packag Technol Sci 2009, 22, 303-310.
  • First user results from the HOTWAXS detector system, J. E. Bateman, G. E. Derbyshire, G. Diakun, D. M. Duxbury, J. P. A. Fairclough, I. Harvey, W. I. Helsby, S. M. Mai, O. O. Mykhaylyk, G. Sankar, E. J. Spill and R. Stephenson, Ieee T Nucl Sci 2008, 55, 729-733.
  • Segmented polyimides with poly(ethylene oxide) blocks exhibiting liquid crystallinity, G. Costa, G. C. Eastmond, J. P. A. Fairclough, J. Paprotny, A. J. Ryan and P. Stagnaro, Macromolecules 2008, 41, 1034-1040.
  • The specific work of flow as a universal parameter to control the formation of shish-kebab morphology in polymers, O. O. Mykhaylyk, P. Chambon, R. S. Graham, J. P. A. Fairclough, P. D. Olmsted and A. J. Ryan, Aip Conf Proc 2008, 1027, 496-498
    1473.
  • The specific work of flow as a criterion for orientation in polymer crystallization, O. O. Mykhaylyk, P. Chambon, R. S. Graham, J. P. A. Fairclough, P. D. Olmsted and A. J. Ryan, Macromolecules 2008, 41, 1901-1904.
  • Toughening by nanostructure, L. Ruiz-Perez, G. J. Royston, J. P. A. Fairclough and A. J. Ryan, Polymer 2008, 49, 4475-4488.

Research Interests

Our research focuses on interactions and association within polymeric materials. We have considerable experience in the study of ordered systems. This covers both well ordered systems such as block copolymers to weakly ordered systems such as polymer networks and gels. We are continuing to develop methods for structure determination in polymeric materials. We are well equipped to study structured materials by birefringence microscopy, small angle laser light scattering (SALS), dynamic and static light scattering, SAXS and WAXS. In addition we have a wide range of spectroscopic techniques such as IR microscopy, UV/Vis spectroscopy and a suite of rheometers. For surface structural characterisation, we have X-ray reflectivity, AFM and ellipsometry, in collaboration with the Physics department. We also have our own purpose built (quart crystal microbalance) QCM with humidity control. With a wide range of techniques available it is natural that we cover a wide range of problems.

Christine and I have just received funding to investigate the effects of Polydispersity on the formation of order phases is block copolymers. This is in collaboration with Dr Perrier in Sydney Australia (it was Leeds) and Prof Matsen in Reading. This currently funds a postdoc and a PhD student. This is the more ordered end of our work.
Amie is a shared student with Prof Mike Williamson in MBB, she is working on astringency and its link with the collapse of salivary proteins in the mouth. This is towards the weakly ordered side of my research.

In collaboration with Prof Ryan we have three analytical studentship working on variety of topics related to the interactions between water and polymeric systems. I have quite a few industrially sponsored projects, which unfortunately means I can´t put much on the web about them, least not yet. These systems form networks and gels, these systems are structured but the ordering in them is not particularly regular. These are challenging systems to study not least because no two molecules in the system are the same.

I also work on the large MuPP II project, http://www1.irc.leeds.ac.uk/mupp2/ which looks at understanding how stretching a polymer makes it more likely to crystallise and solidify. This moves across the range of structure and ordering. It covers how a system transforms from a disordered to an ordered system.

New Research Topics

Currently I´m dabbling in QENS to look at what happens to polymer chains when they are confined by other chains. I have a visiting scientist from Spain working on this.

Teaching Section

Physical Chemistry

Undergraduate Courses Taught

  • CHM1001.6.P: "Chemical Energetics"
    This segment examines the properties of gases and their basis in terms of the detailed motions of molecules and the interactions between them. Building on this knowledge we introduce the fundamental concepts of thermodynamics, in particular how energy can be converted from one form to another.
  • CHM3301.2: "Intermolecular Forces and Liquids"
    This segment explores the nature of the forces between molecules, principally in pairs, and to reconcile the consequences of these forces with the observed time-independent and time-dependent bulk and interfacial behaviour of liquids. The course opens with a review of the forces between pairs of identical molecules that determine the properties of pure fluids, and closes with a review of the forces between pairs of unlike molecules that determine the properties of mixtures and solutions.

Postgraduate Teaching

  • CHM6201: Polymer Characterisation and Analysis
    • This course is an introduction to scattering methods as applied to polymer science.  In particular the theory of the scattering of x-rays, light and neutrons is covered in the first characterisation of order in semi-crystalline polymers.

Tutorial & Workshop Support

  • First Year General Tutorials
  • Second Year Physical Chemistry Tutorials
  • Third Year Workshops (Intermolecular forces)
  • Third Year Literature Review

Laboratory Teaching

  • Second Year Demonstrating
  • Third Year Advanced Physical Chemistry
  • Fourth Year Reseach Project