Summary
Ambrose is Professor of Materials Engineering, and is the leader of the ‘Nanomaterials’ group which specialises in the characterisation and modelling of particle-modified thermoset polymers. He has researched the impact and durability performance of rubber-toughened structural epoxy adhesives, and quantitatively predicted the lifetime of adhesive joints in fatigue. His current work is investigating the structure/property relationship of thermoset/inorganic hybrids, using epoxy, acrylic and cyanate ester polymers. He also has interests in using other nanomodifiers (e.g. layered silicates, carbon nanotubes and silica nanoparticles) as tougheners for thermosets. He is also investigating the microstructure and properties of epoxy adhesives modified with combinations of micro- and nanoparticles. The applications of these materials include structural adhesives, coatings and as the matrices of fibre-composite materials. He also researches degradation and conservation of cultural heritage, working with museums and heritage organisations. He researches the fracture of engineering thermoplastics, and the effects of recycling on their mechanical properties. He has held a prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering Post-doctoral Research Fellowship and a Royal Society Mercer Award for Innovation.
Research
Ambrose heads the Nanomaterials Research activity. The Nanomaterials group is concerned with measuring, modelling and predicting the performance of polymers and composites modified with nanoparticles, and with the formation of nanostructure materials. There is special emphasis on the fracture performance of these materials. For more information, visit www.imperial.ac.uk/MEnanomaterials
Ambrose is co-leader of the Science and Engineering Research for Cultural Heritage Network. This Network of Excellence connects scientists & engineers with conservators & heritage professionals to find solutions to cultural heritage problems. For more information, or to join the network, visit www.imperial.ac.uk/cultural-heritage-research
Research SPONSORS
AHRC, Alstom, Areva, Australian Government, Becker Industrial Coatings, City & Guilds College Association, CEC, Cytec, dstl, Emerald Performance Materials, EPSRC, Evonik, FACT, Hanse Chemie, Henkel, ICI, Malaysian Government, Nanoresins, Noveon, Region Rhone-Alpes, Rolls Royce, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society, Trelleborg, Trinidad & Tobago Government, TSB, US Government, Victoria & Albert Museum
Publications
Journals
Barbera D, Young C, Charalambides M, et al., 2022, A methodology for the use of alkyd paint in thermally aged easel painting reconstructions for mechanical testing, Journal of Cultural Heritage, Vol:55, ISSN:1296-2074, Pages:237-244
Zhang R, Mohammed IK, Taylor AC, et al., 2022, A microstructure image-based numerical model for predicting the fracture toughness of alumina trihydrate (ATH) filled poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composites, Composites Part B: Engineering, Vol:232, ISSN:1359-8368, Pages:109632-109632
Guild FJ, Tsang WL, Taylor AC, 2022, Silica nano-particle filled polymers: Debonding and microstructure, Composites Science and Technology, Vol:218, ISSN:0266-3538, Pages:1-12
Terry JS, Taylor AC, 2021, The properties and suitability of commercial bio-based epoxies for use in fiber-reinforced composites, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol:138, ISSN:0021-8995, Pages:1-12
Charalambides M, Zhang R, Taylor A, et al., 2021, A numerical investigation of interfacial and channelling crack growth rates under low-cycle fatigue in bi-layer materials relevant to cultural heritage, Journal of Cultural Heritage, Vol:49, ISSN:1296-2074, Pages:70-78