Case Studies
Pipelines
Dr. Rob Bailey and his team like to break stuff - and they can sometimes take months to do it.
Although it sounds straightforward, deforming a material until it fails requires precision and making meaningful measurements as that happens has many challenges.
Rob advises the Mechanical Properties team of MSG, and it's his job to find out the problems in the materials he's given to test - if necessary to destruction.
Like the massive oil pipes produced by a major oil company supplier that have to survive harsh conditions in the marine environment.
“We have been doing a whole series of tests including impact and long term properties, designed to support our customer's insurance risk with Lloyds of London and the rigorous materials standards in the Petrochemicals industry” says Rob (pictured here).
“In addition to solid state property measurements, we also look at surfaces in adhesion or in tribology applications, and fluid properties through a wide range of rheology techniques.”
More positive uses for the expertise of MSG Business Scientist Rob and the physical properties team include providing advice to carmakers on how to use the correct materials for making mouldings for such items as car radiators, fascias or bumpers.
“We aren't the only people who can do much of this kind of testing - others would include the National Physical Laboratory and the Rubber and Plastics Research Association.We are particularly good at measuring toughness, and that's very useful. We are experts on adhesion and we know all about materials science (especially plastics and polymers) - some of our people have worked in this area for up to thirty years, so we have unrivalled expertise” Rob added.
Vital to Rob's area is the ability to develop new ways to probe mechanical and lubrication properties, using, applying and developing equipment to gain even more insight into how materials perform. This the MSG team do to tremendous effect for their clients.
