PhD Studentship in Sustainable Grease Lubrication

Imperial College London - Department of Mechanical Engineering

Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of Sustainable Grease Lubricant, leading to the award of a PhD degree. The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate) provided by EPSRC/Shell IDLA award. EPSRC candidates should fulfil the eligibility criteria for the award.

Greases are lubricants commonly used in bearings and joints to ensure energy efficiency and durability of machines. Greases are semi-solid consisting of a fibre network (thickener) and a base fluid. The thickener network acts as a sponge holding the base fluid within. During rubbing, the network is perturbed and releases the fluid which can then offer lubrication. The most common grease network is lithium soap based. In light of environmental issues surrounding lithium and lithium mining, a substitute for lithium-based thickener is sorely needed. This experimental project aims to develop sustainable thickeners for grease applications. We will explore both novel materials and also recycled plastics. Advanced characterisation techniques will be used to obtain fundamental understanding on the working mechanisms of these thickeners. This will enable design of sustainable grease whose performance on par or suppress conventional Li-based grease.

The project will be hosted by the Tribology Group at Imperial College London, a world renowned tribology group, with a multicultural and multidisciplinary teams of about 60 people. It will be conducted in collaboration with industries and other universities.

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will have a 2:1 honours degree or above in chemistry, chemical and mechanical engineering or a related subject, and an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. Good team-working, observational and communication skills are essential.

To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/research/

For information on how to apply, go to:

http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/

For further details of the post contact Dr Janet Wong j.wong@imperial.ac.uk. Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr Wong. Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.

Closing date: until post filled