The Polymers, Nanocomposites and Modelling Research Centre is involved in the study of advanced polymeric systems, the application of computer simulation and mathematical modelling to materials challenges, and addresses the efficiency of energy conversion devices.

The main areas of emphasis are

• clay-polymer nanocomposites which offer enhanced mechanical, barrier and fire retardant properties to polymeric systems for use in structural, packaging and coating applications 
• stimuli-responsive hydrogels and nanocomposites for biomedical applications
• the application of vibrational spectroscopy to the study of controlled release from polymer matrices, polymer formation, gelation and degradation, mapping and imaging of polymer formulations, chemometric data analysis of spectra 
• computer simulation and mathematical modelling of a range of materials and related materials processing techniques. Two main areas of activity are the computer simulation of molecular and mesoscopic materials behaviour, particularly in relation to soft matter systems and the discrete flow modelling of transport phenomena and flows in engineering systems and sub-systems.
• modelling the energy efficiency or devices and systems which convert energy from one form to another
• applying engineering analysis and modelling techniques to support fundamental research, product development and minimising the carbon and financial cost