WILLIAM SAMPSON
University of Manchester

OPTIMISING STRUCTURE-PROPERTY DEPENDENCIES OF STOCHASTIC MATERIALS BY PROBABILISTIC MODELLING

For intrinsically heterogeneous materials, modelling the dependence of properties on structure, and identifying opportunities for modifying these through informed manufacturing, requires consideration of probabilistic theory. In the first instance, we consider random processes of finite length fibres to model structures of paper, nonwoven veils for use in composites and silver nanowire networks with potential application in transparent conducting displays. We proceed to consider stochastic assemblies of infinite length fibres and the optimisation of electrospun polymer fibre scaffolds for tissue engineering. In closing, we demonstrate the application of probabilistic theoretical approaches to describe clustering of colloidal particles during self-assembly processes.

WILLIAM SAMPSON is Professor of Materials Modelling and Head of the School of Materials at the University of Manchester, one of the largest university materials activities in the western world. Bill graduated from UMIST in 1989 with a BSc in Paper Science and in 1992 graduated from the same department with a PhD. He immediately joined the Faculty as a Lecturer, becoming Senior Lecturer in 2004 and Professor in 2013.

Bill’s research involves the application of scientific methods to the modelling and characterization of heterogeneous materials, with emphasis on their structure and its influence on properties. Bill has worked extensively on the properties of paper, nonwoven textiles, composites and fibrous filtration. More recently, he has worked on modelling the structure of electrospun polymer fibre networks, microfibrillated cellulosic networks for use in composite materials, silver nanowire networks for transparent displays and in the development of statistical theoretical frameworks for the self-assembly of aggregating colloidal systems.

Bill is a member of the Pulp and Paper Fundamental Research Committee, and was Programme Chair for the four-yearly Pulp and Paper Fundamental Research Symposia in 2005, 2009 and 2013. He has spent periods of study leave at the University of Toronto (1994/5) and at the Forest Research Institute of New Zealand & University of Auckland (1997/8). He is a member of PAPTAC, TAPPI and Appita and a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.

For more info: http://uoft.me/LLE17-18

Websites of Interest

• University of Toronto
• Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
• Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry