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Sustainable Coatings by Rational Design (SusCoRD)

Sustainable Coatings by Rational Design, SusCoRD, is a prosperity partnership between the Universities of Manchester, Sheffield and Liverpool co-funded by AkzoNobel and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC: EP/S004963/1). This multi-disciplinary project, which runs from the years 2018 to 2024 aims to develop the tools for creating new and improved protective coatings.

The aim of SusCoRD is to essentially tell us “how paint works”. The SusCoRD Prosperity Partnership addresses fundamental research questions concerning the formulation, testing and field performance of corrosion protective organic coatings.

The five-year programme is led by Prof. Stuart Lyon, The University of Manchester and Prof. Anthony Ryan, The University of Sheffield. It combines mechanistic insight from advanced characterisation with machine learning of historic test data to deliver a framework for the rational design of novel coating formulations. It brings together:

  • Market-leading protective coatings for marine, transport and industry (AkzoNobel)
  • World-leading research in corrosion protection (University of Manchester), polymer interfaces (University of Sheffield) and machine learning (University of Liverpool)

At present, the development cycle for new corrosion protective organic coatings is slow, evolutionary, and reliant on extensive testing with trial-and-error empiricism. This programme will, for the first time, use a multi-scale analytical and modelling framework to connect physiochemical properties with performance that enable the development of process and formulation models such that novel, environmentally sustainable materials solutions can be rapidly developed by the application of digital predictive design.

“We aim to connect the physicochemical properties of protective organic coatings with their service performance in order to enable the development of process and formulation models such that novel, environmentally sustainable, materials solutions can be rapidly developed by the application of digital predictive design”

The academic institutions (Universities of Manchester, Sheffield and Liverpool) bring together world-leading capabilities in corrosion science, materials characterisation, polymer science and machine learning and have worked with AkzoNobel and its predecessor bodies for over 30 years.

The Prosperity Partnership delivers a project of sufficient scale and focus to develop a step-change in the mechanistic understanding of corrosion protective coatings leading to improved, more environmentally friendly, paints and a more rapid development cycle. The partnership has strong links with end users including: Airbus, Crown, and Tata Steel.

The above video captures the opening of the new AkzoNobel Laboratory of Corrosion Protection at The University of Manchester, which took place in December 2012. Several prominent AkzoNobel employees discuss the importance of preventing corrosion and give unique insights about the school.

Find out more at: http://bit.ly/106tN9G

Professor Brian Derby, of the University of Manchester, discusses the new partnership between the university and AkzoNobel.

Mid Term Review -Highlights

Primed for a chrome-free future

Discover why chromate-free technology for primers is poised to be the next big thing in the construction industry

3D visualisation of masonry paint

3D X-ray tomographic image of masonry paint creating a visualization of the coating which contains voids (dark pores), smaller titanium dioxide particles, and larger (coloured) particles revealing fossil diatoms from the powdered diatomaceous earth used as a filler in this coating.

SusCoRD mid-term review: AzkoNobel and the the EPSRC Prosperity Partnership

Stuart Lyon (principle investigator, University of Manchester) introduces the EPSRC/AkzoNobel Prosperity Partnership in Sustainable Coatings by Rational Design (SusCoRD) at mid-term review in 2021.

Starting in 2018, this 5-year research partnership between RCUK and AkzoNobel with the Universities of Manchester, Sheffield, and Liverpool will enable for the 1st time a fundamental mechanistic understanding of how the performance of corrosion protective organic coatings arises – essentially it will tell us “how paint works”. Overall the project will deliver understanding and tools that underpin the rapid-to-market development of environmentally sustainable protective organic coatings by rational design.

SusCoRD mid-term review: the importance to AkzoNobel of academic research partnerships

Claudio di Lullo explains how academic partnership is central to AkzoNobel’s research and development strategy.

SusCoRD mid-term review: corrosion protective coatings and sustainability

Tony Ryan, Simon Gibbon and Stuart Lyon discuss sustainability with an audience of 42 from the SusCoRD research team.

Work package 1

Predictive design and testing

To realise deep links between the individual components that comprise fully formulated coatings and correlate these to descriptors of performance by use of machine learning.

Leader

Prof. Stuart Lyon. The University of Manchester

AkzoNobel Manager
Dr Bob Luigjes

Team
Dr Michele Curioni, The University of Manchester (former lead)
Prof. Douglas Kell, The University of Liverpool
Dr Andrew Parnell, The University of Sheffied
Dr Soumitra Samanta, The University of Liverpool (former PDRA)
Dr Simon Gibbon, AkzoNobel
Dr Claudio di Lullo, AkzoNobel

Researchers
Vincenzo Bongiorno, PhD Student The University of Manchester
Dr Husanbir Pannu University of Liverpool (PDRA)

Video: SusCoRD mid-term review: Predictive design and testing (work package 1)

Aim: “To realise deep links between the individual components that comprise fully formulated coatings and correlate these to descriptors of performance by use of machine learning”.

Predictive design and testing: Liverpool (Kell), UoS (Parnell), Manchester (Curioni, Lyon), AkzoNobel (Gibbon, Ramsden, Cairns)

Work package 2

Polymers and interfaces

To develop a multiscale mechanistic understanding of water and ionic transport in heterogeneous polymers and at inorganic/ polymer interfaces, in particular to consider the migration of active species from corrosion inhibitive pigments to the metallic substrate.

Leader
Prof. Richard Jones, The University of Manchester

AkzoNobel Manager
Dr Bob Luigjes

Team
Dr Steven Edmondson, The University of Manchester
Prof. Patrick Fairclough, The University of Sheffield
Prof. Stuart Lyon, The University of Manchester
Prof. Anthony Ryan OBE, The University of Sheffield
Dr Simon Gibbon, AkzoNobel
Dr Claudio di Lullo, AkzoNobel

Researchers

The University of Sheffield
Dr Stephanie Burg, PDRA
Francis Gurman, PhD Student
Derick Liew, PhD Student
Dr Melody Obeng, PDRA
Joseph Orgill, PhD Student
Dr Andrew Parnell, PDRA

The University of Manchester
Julie Cler, PhD Student
Naomi Farrer, PhD Student
Woraphan Intaphan, PhD Student
Dr Suzanne Morsch, Research fellow
Khalil Abdul Razaq, PhD Student

Video: SusCoRD mid-term review: Polymers and interphases (work package 2)

Panel discussion involving WP2 researchers and AkzoNobel collaborators chaired by Prof. Richard Jones.

Aim: “To develop a multiscale mechanistic understanding of water and ionic transport in heterogeneous polymers and at inorganic/ polymer interfaces, in particular to consider the migration of active species from corrosion inhibitive pigments to the metallic substrate.” Polymers and interfaces: Sheffield (Jones, Ryan, Fairclough, Parnell); Manchester (Lyon, Morsch, Burnett); AkzoNobel (Wright, Murray)

Work package 3

Coatings and substrates

Understand how metallic substrates, and their surface treatment, influence polymer- substrate interactions, the interfacial solvation of metal ions, electrochemical charge transfer and the initiation of corrosion by application of multiscale, high-resolution analytical imaging combined with in-operando 3D and 4D imaging.

Leader
Prof. Xiaorong Zhou, The University of Manchester

AkzoNobel Manager
Dr Niek Hijnen

Team
Dr Tim Burnett, The University of Manchester
Mariam Bashat (former PhD Student)
Julie Cler (former PhD Student)
Dr Reza Emad (former PDRA)
Joshua Gornall (former PhD student)
Derrick Liew (former PhD Student)
Dr Rob Lindsay, The University of Manchester
Prof. Stuart Lyon, The University of Manchester
Dr Tammy Porter (former PDRA)
Prof. Richard Wilkinson, The University of Sheffield
Dr Doug Beaumont, AkzoNobel
Dr Simon Gibbon, AkzoNobel
Dr Claudio di Lullo, AkzoNobel

Researchers

The University of Manchester
Kaivalya Borwankar
Kathleen Brook, PhD Student
Naomi Farrer (Associated PhD Student)
Woraphan Intaphan (Associated PhD Student)
Dr Yanwen Liu, Research Fellow
Xingjun Zhou, PhD Student

Video: SusCoRD mid-term review: Coatings and substrates (work package 3)

Aim: “Understand how metallic substrates, and their surface treatment, influence polymer-substrate interactions, the interfacial solvation of metal ions, electrochemical charge transfer and the initiation of corrosion by application of multiscale, high-resolution analytical imaging combined with in-operando 3D and 4D imaging.” Coatings and substrates: Manchester (Zhou, Burnett, Lyon, Liu); Sheffield (Jones, Fairclough); AkzoNobel (Beaumont, Gibbon)

Work package 4

Simulation and modelling

Create physicochemical and electrochemical multiscale simulation models for coating performance that encompasses mechanistic detail and have predictive capability.

Leader
Prof. Flor Siperstein, The University of Manchester

AkzoNobel Manager
Dr Peter Visser

Team
Dr Buddhapriya Chakrabarti, The University of Sheffield
Dr Claudio Pereira Da Fonte, The University of Manchester
Dr Josef Giddings, (former PDRA)
Dr Nick Stevens, The University of Manchester
Dr Charlie Wand, University of Exeter (former PDRA)
Dr Simon Gibbon, AkzoNobel
Dr Claudio di Lullo, AkzoNobel

Researchers
Callum Ayres, PhD Student
Kieran Harris, PhD Student

Video: SusCoRD mid-term review: Simulation and modelling (work package 4)

Aim: “Create physicochemical and electrochemical multiscale simulation models for coating performance that encompasses mechanistic detail and have predictive capability” Manchester (Siperstein, Fonte, Stevens, Lyon); Sheffield (Chakrabarti, Jones); AkzoNobel (Gibbon, Ramsden)

Responsible Research and Innovation

Good practise in responsible research and innovation is incorporated into the research programme across the SusCoRD partner organisations.

Events

We participate in and promote a range of conferences, seminars and workshops.

Upcoming events

SusCoRD Showcase, 16-17th Nov, The Grand York

Highlighting achievements and impacts from across the SusCoRD programme.

Past events

Corrosion @ Manchester: 65th Jubilee Symposium, 3/4 April 2023

Academic study into the corrosion and degradation of materials started over 65 years ago in the Chemical Engineering Department of the former University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). For over 50 years the corrosion laboratories were based in The Mill on the former UMIST campus. However, the new Manchester Engineering Campus Development has now afforded us state-of-the-art facilities to take our research forward into the next generation.

The 2-day meeting reflected on both the history of the subject and celebrated the opening of the new corrosion labs. The first day looked back at the history, and forwards to the future, of the subject, exploring the importance of industry collaboration and partnerships. A poster exhibition showcased current research. Tours the new laboratories were followed by dinner at the Manchester Museum. The second day showcased our SusCoRD research partnership with AkzoNobel.

Selected talks are available to view online:

Browse our YouTube playlist:

Corrosion Science Symposium, 6-9 September 2021

Advances in Corrosion Protection by Organic Coatings Conference was held in Manchester on 6-9 September 2021. Several presentations were given by SusCoRD researchers. All the talks are now available to view.

One of the presentations is the Institute of Corrosion UR Evans award 2021 to Professor Mary Ryan.

Management and governance

The Executive Team is comprised of the principal investigators, work package leaders and AkzoNobel team.

Academic PIs
Prof. Stuart Lyon
The University of Manchester

Prof. Tony Ryan
The University of Sheffield

Project Manager
Dr Jane Deakin

AkzoNobel SusCoRD Managers
Dr Claudio Di Lullo
Dr Simon Gibbon

Strategic Partnership Steering Committee

SusCoRD is overseen by a Strategic Partnership Steering Committee whose membership includes:

Prof. Stuart Lyon, The University of Manchester
Dr Aravind Vijayaraghavan, The University of Manchester
Prof. Chris Hardacre, The University of Manchester
Dr Andre Van Linden, AkzoNobel
Dr Simon Gibbon, AkzoNobel

Claudio Di Lullo, AkzoNobel
Prof. Tony Ryan, The University of Sheffield
Prof. John Derrick, The University of Sheffield
Stephen Webb, EPSRC
James Tarver, EPSRC

Work package meetings take place monthly and whole group meetings take place biannually.

The University of Manchester