The University of Huddersfield will use this award to fund the acquisition of 3 key pieces of technical laboratory equipment, whose use and application cover a broad range of research areas spanning novel functional materials, advanced metrology, and clean growth. The equipment will be used to support a broad range of researchers and disciplines, as well as help ensure high utilisation rates.
The applicants seek to purchase (i) a Leica Absolute Tracker ATS600, the first ever portable direct scanning laser tracker, which can operate without the need for traditional reflective optics to measure the surfaces of large structures; (ii) a Hot Isostatic Press (HIP) AIP6-30H to design resilient next generation materials through the manipulation of defects and microstructures; and (iii) a HERU Pyrolysis Unit which generates clean energy from domestic waste for industrial applications.
The Leica Tracker will facilitate scientific and innovative research in the area of freeform and micro/nano-structured surface measurement of large structures and artefacts in multiuser applications (e.g., rail, automotive, advanced manufacturing). For example, the device will enable absolute measurements required in the EU funded Shift2Rail In2Track2 project, led by Network Rail, thus eliminating alignment issues currently being experienced with existing measurements.
The second instrument is a Hot Isostatic Press (HIP) System to support researchers working in the areas of materials design and investigation technologies and deliver research against key identified EPSRC Priority Research areas including: materials characterisation, functional materials, measurement and sensing, photonic materials, metamaterials and plasmonics, integrative technologies (from mobile technologies to radar technologies) and ICT for manufacturing. The ability to design next-generation materials from defects and microstructures will deliver a step change in the development of materials resistant to temperature, defects and extreme conditions.
The HERU Pyrolysis System is a first of its kind demonstrator, with the capacity to valorise everyday domestic waste into clean reusable energy. This will underpin critical research into the development of environmentally sustainable gas feedstocks for fuelling micro-turbines; thus, contributing to EPSRC's prosperity outcomes for a productive and resilient nation.
All three instruments will be used as a platform to develop interdisciplinary collaborative research across faculties at the University of Huddersfield and with external collaborators and to support established researchers as well as early career researchers and research students.