RESEARCH INTERESTS

The mechanical properties of polymeric materials and their selection and optimization for specific applications are the main areas of Associate Professor Edward's research.

The relationship between the molecular and super molecular structure and the properties of engineering polymers is being investigated. One particular focus is on the molecular morphology created by particular processing routes such as injection moulding or extrusion, and the effect on properties. The focus of this is to develop constitutive equations which are tractable for design use and which require only relatively simple experimental measurements to characterize a particular material.
Another area of interest is in the use of mechanical relaxation spectra to describe the materials time dependent properties (creep and stress relaxation).
Other areas of interest include novel ways of achieving high degrees of orientation and property anisotropy (including equal channel angular extrusion), the blending of polymers, the relationship between the microstructure and processing history of immiscible blends and the wear and frictional properties of polymers with industrial applications.

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