Overview
Welcome to the Wong Group
The structure and dynamics of complex fluids are strongly affected by the stress, temperatures and degree of confinement. We apply fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging to polymers and complex fluids under extreme conditions.
We are particular interested in phase stabilities, and phase transitions of bulk fluids and confined fluids at high stress and high temperature conditions. One of such complex fluids in extreme condition is lubricant in a tribological contact. Our work allows various information such as lubricant structures and viscosity, phase transition, aggregation, adsorption, and self-assembly of additives, lubricant flow to be obtained. When combined with mechanical testing snd film thickness measurements, the molecular origins of mechanical responses of lubricated system is established.
Inerting our lubrication system to enhance tribological performance of machine is an exciting concept our group is developing. For more details, please see the link below for our recent presentation on this Topic
PhD Position in Experimental Mechanochemistry
Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of Mechanochemistry, with a focus in Tribology, leading to the award of a PhD degree. The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate) provided by the EPSRC / Shell. EPSRC candidates should fulfil the eligibility criteria for the award. International candidates will be considered.
Lubricants are complex fluids whose are crucial the efficiency and durability of machines. They consists of a base fluid and multiple functional additives. Some of these additives, including friction modifiers and antiwear additives, are surface actives and form protective films on rubbing surfaces. It is now realised that the reactions by which these protective films (tribofilms) are formed are driven by the enormous mechanical forces experienced by individual additive molecules within rubbing contacts, i.e. mechanochemistry. The ability of these additives to form tribofilms is thus determined by the way their molecular structure experiences and responds to applied forces.
This project is experimental and will explore the influence of molecular structure of model lubricant additives on tribofilm formation and composition. Of particular interest will be phosphate esters and some friction modifiers likely to be used in electric vehicle transmission oils. It will employ advanced tribology test equipment to form and monitor in situ the kinetics of formation and composition of tribofilms using advanced laser spectroscopies. Based on this it will determine the molecular mechanisms of tribofilm formation involved.
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 1st class honours degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering or a related subject, and an enquiring and rigorous approach to research together with a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. An interest in chemistry and engineering is essential. Good team-working, observational and communication skills are essential. You will be required to communicate with the industrial partners, will have the opportunity to attend multiple international conferences during your PhD and publish your work in scientific journals.
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.
PhD position in Lubrication in an inert atmosphere
Inerting our lubrication system to enhance tribological performance of machine is an exciting concept our group is developing. For more details, please see the link below for our recent presentation on this Topic
PhD Studentship in Lubrication in an inert gas environment – a new route to sustainability
Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of Lubrication and tribochemistry, leading to the award of a PhD degree. The post is supported by a bursary and fees (at the UK student rate) provided by Shell. The studentship is for 3.5 years, starting as soon as possible and will provide full coverage of standard tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend of approximately £20k. Candidates should fulfil the eligibility criteria of UKRI home student for the award.
The project will be hosted by The Tribology Group at Imperial College. It will be supervised by Dr Janet Wong and Professor Hugh Spikes. You will be expected to study at a Shell location for a minimum period of at least 3 months and will be offered industrial mentoring throughout the project. The Tribology Group is a vibrant, world-leading research group with unparalleled experimental and modelling equipment facilities. You will be a member of a larger community of Shell-funded researchers in the Group who are working on lubricant and electric vehicle-related projects.
The useful life of liquid lubricants and greases is limited by the fact that they oxidise in air. This requires regular oil change and disposal, limits the temperatures at which lubricants can be used, and greatly constrains the application of environmentally-friendly vegetable oils. Prevention of lubricant oxidation would thus make a major contribution to sustainability and the environment. One possible way to prevent lubricant oxidation is to “inert” closed lubricated systems such as transmissions of electric vehicle, wind-turbine, industrial gearboxes and hydraulics by filling them with nitrogen gas, which is now potentially viable due to the development of low cost, light-weight nitrogen concentrators. This project will use such concentrators to study tribological and degradation performance of lubricants in inert conditions. By applying advanced experimental techniques including tribometry, EPR, FTIR/Raman and FIB/TEM, you will answer the following research questions: (i) Do lubricants designed to work in air function effectively in the absence of oxygen and if now, why not and how can they be changed? (ii) How, if at all. do lubricants degrade in the absence of oxygen? The answers to these will then be used to formulate and apply inerted lubricants in real applications.
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 1st class honours degree or a high 2:1 degree at Master level (or equivalent) in Chemical Engineering, Materials, Chemistry or a related science and branch of engineering. You have 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.