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
Fan W, Yang H, Taylor AC, 2023, Numerical analysis of fracture in interpenetrating phase composites based on crack phase field model, Composites Science and Technology, Vol:232, ISSN:0266-3538, Pages:1-9
Panta J, Rider AN, Wang J, et al., 2023, High-performance carbon nanofiber reinforced epoxy-based nanocomposite adhesive materials modified with novel functionalization method and triblock copolymer, Composites Part B-engineering, Vol:249, ISSN:1359-8368
Kopsidas S, Olowojoba G, Stone C, et al., 2022, Lightning strike damage resistance of carbon-fiber composites with nanocarbon-modified epoxy matrices, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol:139, ISSN:0021-8995, Pages:1-18
He S, Carolan D, Fergusson A, et al., 2022, Investigating the transfer of toughness from rubber modified bulk epoxy polymers to syntactic foams, Composites Part B: Engineering, Vol:245, ISSN:0961-9526, Pages:1-15
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