Polymer Engineering, Materials Testing, Inspection, Research, Development, Resistance, UK

MERL is co-ordinating the EUROSTARS funded "Laser Transmission Welding of Composite Structures (LaWocs)" project. The project consortium comprises five specialist R&D SMEs involved in the field of thermoplastic composites. One of the aims of the project is to develop a novel joining technique for thermoplastic composite parts based on laster transimission welding technology.

research

MERL are involved in a range of current UK Government and EC funded projects - click below for some of the latest.

CQCC: Continuous Quality Control for Composites for the Next Generation Flexible Pipe
NDT2DT: New ICT Approach to Automate Non-destructive Testing and Inspections with Evaluation of Damage Tolerance in Composite Structures
GlaCERCo: Glass Ceramics Composites – An Initial Training Network
CEDESA: Centre of Excellence for the Design of Efficient and Safe Aircraft
WASIS: Composite Fuselage Section Wafer Design Approach for Safety Increasing in Worst Case Situations and Joints Minimizing
ESPOSA: Efficient Systems and Propulsion for Small Aircraft
LA WOCS: Laser Transmission Welding of Thermoplastic Composite Structures

news & events

Confidence in Composites, Materials World magazine, August, 2011
Dr Rod Martin and Dr Morris Roseman from Materials Engineering Research Laboratory (MERL) Ltd outline the essential functions being performed by composites in the oil and gas industry. Click here to see the full article

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT)
Within the wound care arena the understanding of the effects of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) upon tissue and the processes of healing are still being developed. Optimization of the level of strain applied to the tissue to affect the healing process, without causing undue stress on the tissue and pain to the patient, remains a key clinical objective.

MERL have been working with ConvaTec (www.convatec.com) to provide additional understanding of the tissue strain forces applied by different NPWT tissue interface materials using 3-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) models. The FEA models were used to assess the predicted levels of 3-dimensional strain applied to tissue by the dressing materials under different levels of applied negative pressure.

Click here to see the poster presented at the 2011 Symposium on Advanced Wound Care and Wound Healing Society meeting, April 14-17th 2011, Dallas, Texas, USA.

“Composites Grand Challenge” celebrates technical success and an inspirational year
A consortium of 22 companies from across British industry and led by GKN Aerospace, i-Composites, has concluded a unique one year challenge set by the Technology Strategy Board on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Called ‘The Composites Grand Challenge’, the programme required the companies to collaborate to progress innovations in vital composite manufacturing technologies.Click here for the full project press release.

Within the consortium MERL led a project that aimed to develop and validate a methodology for predicting the effect of delamination type manufacturing defects on the performance of composite material structures. Click here for further details.

MERL Oilfield Engineering with Polymers Conference 2012
MERL and AMI are currently recruiting speakers for the 8th MERL Oilfield Engineering with Polymers 2012 conference.

Of particular interest will be contributions that address some of the current industry challenges for polymeric materials:

• high temperatures and pressures downhole
• extremely cold environments, e.g. arctic conditions
• use of supercritical CO2 injection for enhanced oil recovery
• material compatibility with production and treatment fluids
• use of composite materials

Papers are invited on all aspects of oil and gas engineering including:

• global market and industry trends in oilfield engineering
• operational experience/case studies
• failure analysis and lessons learnt
• new materials, applications and operating conditions
• use of composite materials
• insulation systems and performance evaluations
• sealing materials and seal performance
• qualification test methods (e.g. NORSOK M-710)
• material durability and life assessment
• material challenges for high and low pressure and temperature extremes
• sour fluid handling
• repair and maintenance
• standards and regulatory requirements

The 8th MERL Oilfield Engineering with Polymers conference and exhibition will take place at the Millenium Gloucester Hotel in London from 23rd to 25th October 2012.

For further information on presenting a paper, exhibiting and attending visit the AMI website

MECC-13 13th Middle Eastern Corrosion Conference, Bahrain
MERL exhibited at the 13th Middle Eastern Corrosion Conference and Exhibition based in Bahrain from 14th to 17th February 2010 (Stand A25). www.mecconline.org

MERL presented two papers in the Non-Metallic Materials session:

- New Qualification Methods for Polymers in Contact with Oilfield Fluids from ISO and NORSOK: R.H. Martin, B. Thomson

- The Effects of Suppercritical CO2 Exposures on Polymers: R.H. Martin, M. Roseman, B. Thomson

IICCM-17 17th International Conference on Composite Materials
MERL presented four papers at this conference:

- Testing and Analysis of Advanced Composite Materials and Structures in Wind Turbine Applications: P.L. Hansen, S. Giannis, and R.H. Martin. - Monday 27th July, 16:10 Session

- Skin-Stringer Separation in Glare Composite Aerospace Panels: S Giannis and R Martin.- Tuesday 28th July, 13:50 Session

- Biocomposites in Challenging Automotive Applications: R Martin, S Giannis, S Mirza and K Hansen - Wednesday 29th July, 09:10 Session

- Thermplastics for use in Offshore Flowline Applications: N Smith M Roseman G Morgan R Martin - Friday 31st July, 13:50 Session

The Ageing of Composites Book
Dr. Rod Martin (MERL CEO) has edited a book entitled "The Ageing of Composites" which was published by Woodhead Publishing Ltd in 2008. The book is a compilation of chapters from an international team of distinguished authors and is in three sections. The first section covers the fundamental aspects of characterising and modelling the physical and chemical ageing of composite materials. The second section addresses the ageing of composites in transport applications including rail, aerospace and marine. The third section addresses the ageing of composites in non-aerospace applications including the petrochemical industry and underwater applications. The book is available for purchase at www.woodheadpublishing.com.