Innovative Coatings and Adhesives for Recycling (I-CARE)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Polymers are all around us and although they are an integral part to the development of the global economy, many materials are only used once. Waste production in the UK is a significant issue with 80% of materials used in manufacturing products ending up as waste, landfill approaching capacity and a 40% increase in consumer waste projected between 2016 and 2020. Against a backdrop of sustainability and the need to reduce environmental impacts, recycling, re-use and remanufacture are becoming ever more important. This Fellowship will develop smart polymers that provide high performance and also enable recycling, which will be a unique approach in the UK to a circular economy. The goal of the programme is to work with academic and industrial partners to develop a key body of knowledge via high quality underpinning science and correlating the molecular architecture of the new materials with their basic physical properties and the application performance important to the end use, in addition to designing the relative compatibility between polymers to optimise their form and ultimate properties.
Planned Impact
Industrial Partners and Supply-chain
As the Fellow has an extensive industrial background there are opportunities to capitalize on these networks by working with companies across the supply chain who will benefit from this research. Companies in the supply chain will cover polyurethane and acrylic coatings and adhesives, including manufacturers of raw materials, manufacturers of polymers and users of polymers. A significant outcome of the project will be the development of new smart polymers and a strengthening of the UK (and wider) supply chain by underpinning technical capability with the development of advanced materials for manufacture, which are sympathetic to the environment from a life cycle impact perspective and reductions in waste.
Environmental benefits
Waste production in the UK is a significant issue with 80% of materials used in manufacturing products ending up as waste, landfill is approaching capacity and a 40% increase in consumer waste is projected between 2016 and 2020. The development of smart polymers that provide high performance but also mitigate environmental impacts will play key role in contributing to UK society helping to achieve waste reductions and CO2 emission targets, which are also legislated at the European level (Waste Framework Directive and the EU Climate and Energy Package 2020).
As this programme includes a collaboration with the Jaguar Land Rover and their supply chain the research will contribute to their light-weighting agenda to increase fuel efficiency and to reduce CO2 emissions. Light-weighting is an effective way of cutting greenhouse gas emissions as it has significant potential to contribute towards meeting European targets to reduce emissions by 20% by 2020.
As the Fellow has an extensive industrial background there are opportunities to capitalize on these networks by working with companies across the supply chain who will benefit from this research. Companies in the supply chain will cover polyurethane and acrylic coatings and adhesives, including manufacturers of raw materials, manufacturers of polymers and users of polymers. A significant outcome of the project will be the development of new smart polymers and a strengthening of the UK (and wider) supply chain by underpinning technical capability with the development of advanced materials for manufacture, which are sympathetic to the environment from a life cycle impact perspective and reductions in waste.
Environmental benefits
Waste production in the UK is a significant issue with 80% of materials used in manufacturing products ending up as waste, landfill is approaching capacity and a 40% increase in consumer waste is projected between 2016 and 2020. The development of smart polymers that provide high performance but also mitigate environmental impacts will play key role in contributing to UK society helping to achieve waste reductions and CO2 emission targets, which are also legislated at the European level (Waste Framework Directive and the EU Climate and Energy Package 2020).
As this programme includes a collaboration with the Jaguar Land Rover and their supply chain the research will contribute to their light-weighting agenda to increase fuel efficiency and to reduce CO2 emissions. Light-weighting is an effective way of cutting greenhouse gas emissions as it has significant potential to contribute towards meeting European targets to reduce emissions by 20% by 2020.
Organisations
- University of Sheffield (Lead Research Organisation)
- National Composites Centre (NCC) (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD (Collaboration)
- Perstorp UK Ltd (Project Partner)
- Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (International) (Project Partner)
- JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED (Project Partner)
- Econic Technologies Ltd (Project Partner)
People |
ORCID iD |
Andrew Slark (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications

Goodenough J
(2023)
Reversible adhesives and debondable joints for fibre-reinforced plastics: Characteristics, capabilities, and opportunities
in Materials Chemistry and Physics

Greenwood S
(2021)
Many Happy Returns: Combining insights from the environmental and behavioural sciences to understand what is required to make reusable packaging mainstream
in Sustainable Production and Consumption

Gregg J
(2024)
Dissociative covalent adaptable networks from unsaturated polyesters
in European Polymer Journal

Jonathan Gregg
(2023)
The chemistry and properties of new thermally reversible adhesives

M. Sridhar L
(2022)
Furan Derivatives - Recent Advances and Applications

Simon Fawcett
(2024)
New Thermally Reversible Thermoplastic Polyurethanes

Sridhar L
(2020)
Re-usable thermally reversible crosslinked adhesives from robust polyester and poly(ester urethane) Diels-Alder networks
in Green Chemistry

Xander Praet
(2023)
Reversible Acrylic Adhesives based on Covalent Adaptable Networks
Description | 1st demonstration that reversibly crosslinked adhesives can be thermally triggered to separate substrates and re-used repeatedly to produce the same performance. The materials are potentially industrially scalable. Very high bond strengths obtained from new thermoplastic adhesive materials (unusual). Design of new routes to crosslinked materials which are thermally reversible, including Incorporation of non fossil fuel resources. Design of reversible polymers to be suitable for other materials/applications, initial proof of concept achieved for both elastomers and composites. |
Exploitation Route | As progress develops, the intention is to use the knowledge generated - to develop dialogue with potential collaborators interested in polymers which perform in service but which can be re-used at the end-of-life. - to develop collaborations with other academic partners. |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Construction Energy Environment Transport |
Description | Doctoral Training Programme |
Amount | £80,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2022 |
End | 04/2026 |
Description | EPSRC Doctoral Training Centre |
Amount | £80,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2018 |
End | 09/2022 |
Description | Faculty of Science - Funded Studentship |
Amount | £80,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Sheffield |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2021 |
End | 03/2025 |
Description | Impact Acceleration Knowledge Exchange |
Amount | £34,978 (GBP) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2022 |
End | 06/2023 |
Description | New Thermoplastic Polyurethanes for Security Applications |
Amount | £90,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 2298895 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2019 |
End | 09/2023 |
Description | Polyurethane Foams as Synthetic Soils for Horticulture: food quality and end-of-life recycling |
Amount | £90,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 2559088 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2020 |
End | 04/2024 |
Description | "Plastics, Redefining Single Use" (EPSRC) as part of the Plastics Research Innovation Fund (PRIF) followed by "Many Happy Returns" (NERC) |
Organisation | University of Sheffield |
Department | Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Part of the Management Steering Group and helped to develop a Proof-of-Concept on Re-Use involving both behavioural and technical studies. Identified that an Industrial Packaging Expert (Sarah Greenwood) with detailed applied knowledge would provide a strategic advantage to the PRIF project. Arranged employment for this expert via additional HEIF funding via (a) short-term consultancy contract and (b) a 12 month fixed term contract (£60,000). With my support, Sarah fully achieved what was planned in the original business case: 1. Led a Proof-of-Concept study on reusable packaging, collaborating with key external stakeholders - including M&S and Unilever. 2. Supported external credibility of the PRIF output via her involvement as a known Packaging Expert, including being co-author of publications. 3. Helped secure a successful UoS bid to the ISCF Wave 3 on Sustainable Packaging, "Many Happy Returns" funded by NERC The aim of the "Many Happy Returns" research is to make sustainable reuse of plastic packaging mainstream by identifying the best reuse model for different contexts, exploring the optimum materials, process and technologies for smart reusable plastic packaging systems, and developing practices to encourage reuse. My role is to use my expertise and design critical experiments to evaluate the durability of different materials in order to select the best for re-use. |
Collaborator Contribution | Competency and Capability Teams (CCT) were built in the following areas: 1. Technological Feasibility. 2. Environmental and Techno-economic Assessment. 3. Understanding social change. 4. Enabling behavioural, organisational, and social change. By engaging stakeholders from a range of businesses (polymer producers, packaging manufacturers, FMCG companies, retailers,recyclers) and policy makers (DEFRA, BEIS) via a number of workshops, Proof of Concept Studies (PCS) were developed on three topics: 1. Re-use (v recycling) of consumer waste. 2. Medical Waste. 3. Agricultural waste. |
Impact | Paper presented at PRIF conference and article submitted for publication. The project draws together existing expertise from 15 academic departments across all five faculties of the University (Science; Engineering; Social Science; Medicine, Dentistry and Health; Arts and Humanities). |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | ReDisCoveR - identifying opportunities for sustainable composites - Recycling, Disassembly, Circular Materials |
Organisation | National Composites Centre (NCC) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Contribution to discussion around the 24 projects that have been scoped. In particular focus on reversible joints helping to identify potential for two projects; one looking at exploiting readily available technologies and another demonstrating feasibility of lower TRL technologies. |
Collaborator Contribution | Experts from industry, academia, and High Value Manufacturing Catapult - representation from the aerospace, automotive, rail, marine, renewables, oil and gas, defence, and fashion sectors. This whole supply chain representation indicates just how universal the topic of circular economy and end of life is within the composites industry, and begins to demonstrate the scale of the opportunity. Invaluable insight from industry experts, helping to shape the direction of the programme moving forwards. |
Impact | Proposals will be developed for funding application |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | 13th European Adhesives Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presented my Fellowship and initial results on reversible adhesives Had follow up with a potential collaborator |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Approach from External Company |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Approached by company who have developed roofing systemabouts, discussion about developing sustainable solutions |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
Description | Bordeaux Polymer Conference, June 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Presented work and I-CARE Fellowship, approximately 200 people attended. First opportunity to present work face-to-face to an international scientific community. Resulted in a number of discussions and conversations about possible collaboration. Helped me understand what other work and approaches are being made by other groups, provided ideas for further development. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Discussions with CPI and NCC, part of the HVMC Catapult |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Meeting to discuss Fellowship and awareness of my activity. NDA's to be arranged and invited to talk at both CPI and NCC |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | IOM3 Industry/academia networking on elastomers |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | 5 minute pitch, snapsot of our work on recyclable elastomers which led to a number of discussions and 5 leads to follow up |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
URL | https://www.iom3.org/events-awards/ems-event-calendar/elastomer-group-industry-academia-networking-e... |
Description | Materials Research Exchange |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Post-docs attended to promote the activity of our group and scope interest in sustainable materials. A number of useful contacts were made which have been followed up by invitations to other events and additional requests for further information. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | RSC conference, Formulating for Adhesion |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Presentation about the Fellowship and initial results, to engage potential interested parties. Interest from a number of different organisations to follow up |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | SURFEX annual coatings exhibition, June 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Approx 30 people attended with a following discussion about a potential meeting under NDA |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Sustainability of Adhesion and Adhesives, December 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation of work on reversible adhesives to potentially enhance re-use of materials |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | UK meeting on Coatings organised by OCCA |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Meeting on sustainability in coatings, made a key link with Lake Coatings, followed up with discussions under NDA |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Visit to National Composites Centre May 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Following virtual meetings, visited the National Composites Centre Presented our first proof of concept on reversibly crosslinked adhesives Discussed needs for sustainable composites and how we might collaborate in future |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |