| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/N02467/01 |
| Title: |
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF INTERFACIAL PROTEIN NETWORKS AND THE RELATION TO DROPLET BREAKUP |
| Principal Investigator: |
Middelberg, Professor A |
| Other Investigators: |
|
| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
|
| Project Partners: |
|
| Department: |
Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology |
| Organisation: |
University of Cambridge |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 February 2000 |
Ends: |
31 July 2002 |
Value (£): |
50,317
|
| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
|
| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
|
| Related Grants: |
|
| Panel History: |
|
|
Summary on Grant Application Form |
|
Critical oil droplet size cannot currently be predicted when an interfacial protein network forms, as shown by Prins' group in 1997. This proposal outlines a rigorous solution based on the application of capsule theory to droplet breakup. A pre-requisite for application of this theoretical base is knowledge of the constitutive stress-strain behaviour of interfacial protein networks at large deformations to failure, and the stress and strain at failure. Such information cannot be obtained with existing methods. This work will therefore develop a new scientific instrument, the Microscale Interfacial Network Tensiometer (MINT), to obtain such data. The MINT relies on polymerisation of the network onto thin rods during its formation. These rods are subsequently used to strech the network and to sense the transmitted force, thus providing a stress-strain constitutive relationship. We will characterise a variety of interfacial protein and self-assembling peptide networks using the MINT. Outcomes will include fundamental information on the mechanical properties of these networks, as well as a generalised correlation of critical size for droplets in Couette shear with an interfacial network present. Generalisation of the results in terms of protein and peptide characteristics will be attempted.
|
|
Key Findings |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
|
Potential use in non-academic contexts |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
|
Impacts |
|
| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
|
| Date Materialised |
|
|
|
|
Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
| Project URL: |
|
| Further Information: |
|
| Organisation Website: |
http://www.cam.ac.uk |