Staff profile

EDI - Co-Chair

Departmental Environment Champion

Rheology and composites

The behaviour of materials under flow is essential to understand for many processing, manufacturing and product uses. We use controlled rheology experiments on well defined samples to study their behaviour in simplified flow conditions and combine with theory, modelling and other experimental techniques to understand the complex behaviours of modern materials.

Research Interests

Research in Dr Thompson’s group is focused on the physical chemistry of polymers and particularly their fascinating behaviour at exposed surfaces and buried interfaces. Within this area, there are two main themes: (i) the relationship between chemical functionalisation of polymer and their self-organisation,[1, 2] and (ii) the exploitation of unusual process environments to control this behaviour.[3, 4] As well as addressing fundamental polymer science problems, the group collaborates with actively with industry and other research groups to address diverse topics such as surface modification, rheology (flow) problems, polymer electronics[5] and nanocomposites.[6]

Influence of solvents on polymer adsorption and diffusion

-why bake, when you could boil, steam or deep fry!?

Polymer processing frequently makes use of organic solvents and we have used ion beam and optical techniques to explore for the first time the relationship between the ingress of a penetrating solvent vapour or nonsolvent and the interdiffusion of polymer chains that can accompany this process. Not only does this allow us to understand how to make efficient use of organic solvents, but is leads to new opportunities in polymer self-organisation. We have also shown for the first time that polarity, pH and ionic strength of a contacting non-solvent can all be harnessed to deliver different kinds of surface modification.

References

1. Kimani, S.M., et al., Synthesis and surface activity of high and low surface energy multi-end functional polybutadiene additives. Soft Matter, 2012. 8(12): p. 3487-3496. 
2. Hardman, S.J., et al., Surface Modification of Polyethylene with Multi-End-Functional Polyethylene Additives. Langmuir, 2012. 28(11): p. 5125-5137. 
3. Hutchings, L.R., et al., NonSolvent Annealing in Thin Polymer Films. Langmuir, 2010. 26(19): p. 15486-15493. 
4. Thompson, R.L., et al., pH-Controlled Polymer Surface Segregation. Langmuir, 2009. 25(5): p. 3184-3188. 
5. Rodriguez, A.B., et al., Structure of films of poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonate) crosslinked with glycerol. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 2011. 21(48): p. 19324-19330. 
6. Thompson, R.L., S.C. Gurumurthy, and M. Pattabi, Depth distribution of silver particulate films deposited in softened polystyrene substrates studied through Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. Journal of Applied Physics, 2011. 110(4). 043533

• Ion and neutron scattering techniques
• Soft Matter
• Polymer Blends
• Surfaces and Interfaces
• Nanocomposites

• Soft Matter and Interfaces

• 2020: A novel flexible format for departmental seminars improving inclusion at Durham University(£3800.00 from Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund)
• 2020: Synthesis of well-defined biodegradable polymers and study of their material properties(£49393.16 from Procter & Gamble UK)
• 2020: WT 529888: Control of Protective Coating Performance Aspects Through Manipulation of Polymer Fragility(£0.00 from AKZO Noble)
• 2019: BUILDING RESILIENCE INTO GRAPHENE-OXIDE BASED NANOFILTRATION(£27981.00 from )
• 2019: KTP- AGMA Ltd(£141980.00 from )
• 2019: UNDERSTANDING THE EFFECT OF SOLVENTS ON(£27981.00 from )
• 2017: Microstar - 2yr expt RA(£277734.90 from CPI Innovation Services Ltd)
• 2017: Small Molecule migration in, on and through complex formulations: Towards predictive control and sustainable future(£426516.80 from Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
• 2014: Capability Study of LACE Slot Die and Magenta R2R Equipment(£15071.00 from Centre for Process Innovation Limited)
• 2014: Structure property relationships of melted polymers from model systems to industrial complexity rheological characterization and modelling(£96374.00 from Michelin)
• 2013: CASE Studentship:Migration of Actives Through Films(£17280.32 from Procter & Gamble Technical Centres Ltd)
• 2013: Engineering innovation in graphene nanocomposites for consumer product and packaging applications(£1262925.58 from Epsrc)
• 2013: IAA KTS - Squeezing Down The Cost of Polymer Processing(£2741.78 from Epsrc)
• 2012: Ageing Studies in Drying Soils(£3000.00 from N8 Research Partnership)
• 2012: Levitating Life - a contactless technology for bioreactors(£2800.00 from N8 Research Partnership)
• 2012: Smart rheological systems based on supramolecular chemistry(£110932.00 from Michelin)
• 2011: Knowledge Exchange of industrially relevant synthesis techniques with DuPont Teijin Films(£11879.05 from Epsrc)
• 2010: KTP - DuPont Teijin Films UK Limited(£228446.00 from DuPont Teijin Films UK Limited)
• 2010: PIA: Activities to highlight polymer and soft matter capability at Durham University(£29765.28 from Epsrc)
• 2009: Adsorption and Adhesion on semi-crystalline(£321861.58 from Epsrc)
• 2005: EXTENDED RANGE ION BEAM ANALYSIS SYSTEM(£22453.00 from Epsrc)

• 0000: British Society of Rheology: Council Member and Hon. Bulletin Editor
• 0000: ISIS Facility Access Panel (Large Scale Structures) 2008-2011:
• 0000: ISIS Facility Access Panel (Spectroscopy) 2014-2018:

Available for media contact about:

• Chemistry: Surface analysis of materials, particularly using particle scattering methods.
• Structure, Property and Function: Surface analysis of materials, particularly using particle scattering methods.

Conference Paper

• L.R. Hutchings, A.P. Narrainen, N. Clarke, R.L. Thompson & I.A. Ansari (2006), Well defined multi end-functionalized polymers as additives to modify surfaces and interfaces, 231: 231st National Meeting of the American-Chemical-Society. Atlanta, GA, Atlanta GA.
• A.P. Narrainen, L.R. Hutchings, W.J. Feast, R.L. Thompson, I.A. Ansari & N. Clarke (2006), Fluorocarbon end-functionalized polymers from poly(arylether) dendritic initiators, 231: 8th Conference on Macromolecules - Polymers for Africa. La Pirogue, MAURITANIA, La Pirogue, 103-109.

Journal Article

• Bannister, Callum, Guy, Alan, Mihaylova, Ralitsa, Orgill, Joseph, Burg, Stephanie L., Parnell, Andrew & Thompson, Richard L. (2022). The influence of ambient cure chemistry and stoichiometry on epoxy coating surfaces. RSC Advances 12(44): 28746.
• Szablewski, Marek, Thompson, Richard L. & Pålsson, Lars-Olof (2022). Modulated Fluorescence in LB Films Based on DADQs—A Potential Sensing Surface? Molecules 27(12): 3893.
• Robertson, Ben, Robinson, Ian M., Stocks, D. & Thompson, Richard L. (2022). Shear processing maps: a new design guide for melt processors. Plastics, Rubber and Composites Macromolecular Engineering 51(5): 217-239.
• Litwinowicz, Matthew, Rogers, Sarah, Caruana, Andrew, Kinane, Christy, Tellam, James & Thompson, Richard (2021). Tuning the Bulk and Surface Properties of PDMS Networks through Cross-Linker and Surfactant Concentration. Macromolecules 54(20): 9636.
• Gibson, Colin P., Litwinowicz, Matthew A., Tellam, James P., Welbourn, Rebecca J.L., Skoda, Maximilian W.A., Claussen, Jan & Thompson, Richard L. (2021). Water-Resistant Surface Modification of Hydrophobic Polymers with Water-Soluble Surfactant Additives. Polymers 13(19): 3407.
• Millican, Jonathan M., Bittrich, Eva, Caspari, Anja, Pöschel, Kathrin, Drechsler, Astrid, Freudenberg, Uwe, Ryan, Timothy G., Thompson, Richard L., Pospiech, Doris & Hutchings, Lian R. (2021). Synthesis and characterisation of a mussel-inspired hydrogel film coating for biosensors. European Polymer Journal 153: 110503.
• Reynolds, C. D., Hoyle, D. M., McLeish, T. C. B. & Thompson, R. L. (2020). Chain-stretch relaxation from low-frequency Fourier transform rheology. Physical Review Research 2(3): 033457.
• Fong, Rebecca, Squillace, Ophélie, Reynolds, Carl, Cooper, Joshaniel, Dalgliesh, Robert Malcolm, Tellam, James, Courchay, Florence & Thompson, Richard L. (2020). Segregation of Amine Oxide Surfactants in PVA Films. Langmuir 36(17): 4795-4807.
• Squillace, Ophélie, Fong, Rebecca, Shepherd, Oliver, Hind, Jasmine, Tellam, James Steinke, Nina-Juliane & Thompson, Richard L. (2020). Influence of PVAc/PVA Hydrolysis on Additive Surface Activity. Polymers 12(1): 205.
• Tasche, Jos Sabattie, Elise F. D. Thompson, Richard L. Campana, Mario & Wilson, Mark R. (2020). Oligomer/polymer blend phase diagram and surface concentration profiles for squalane/polybutadiene: experimental measurements and predictions from SAFT-g Mie and molecular dynamics simulations. Macromolecules 53(7): 2299-2309.
• Boothroyd, S.C., Hoyle, D.M. McLeish, T.C.B., Munch, E., Schach, R., Smith, A.J. & Thompson, R.L. (2019). Association and Relaxation of Supra-Macromolecular Polymers. Soft Matter 15(26): 5296-5307.
• Jones, Christopher D., Simmons, Henry T. D., Horner, Kate E., Liu, Kaiqiang, Thompson, Richard L. & Steed, Jonathan W. (2019). Braiding, branching and chiral amplification of nanofibres in supramolecular gels. Nature Chemistry 11: 375-381.
• Robertson, Ben, Thompson, Richard L., McLeish, Tom C. B. & Robinson, Ian (2019). Polymer extrudate-swell: From monodisperse melts to polydispersity and flow-induced reduction in monomer friction. Journal of Rheology 63(2): 319-333.
• Fong, Rebecca J., Robertson, Alexander, Mallon, Peter E. & Thompson, Richard L. (2018). The impact of plasticizer and degree of hydrolysis on free volume of poly (vinyl alcohol) films. Polymers 10(9): 1036.
• Reynolds, Carl, Thompson, Richard & McLeish, Tom (2018). Pressure and shear rate dependence of the viscosity and stress relaxation of polymer melts. Journal of Rheology 62(2): 631-642.
• Boothroyd, Stephen C., Johnson, David W., Weir, Michael P., Reynolds, Carl D., Hart, James M., Smith, Andrew J., Clarke, Nigel, Thompson, Richard L. & Coleman, Karl S. (2018). Controlled Structure Evolution of Graphene Networks in Polymer Composites. Chemistry of Materials 30(5): 1524-1531.
• Briddick, Arron, Fong, Rebecca J., Sabattié, Elise F. D., Li, Peixun, Skoda, Maximilian W. A., Courchay, Florence & Thompson, Richard L. (2018). Blooming of Smectic Surfactant/Plasticizer Layers on Spin-Cast Poly(vinyl alcohol) Films. Langmuir 34(4): 1410–1418.
• Robertson, Ben, Thompson, Richard L., McLeish, Tom C. B. & Robinson, Ian (2017). Theoretical prediction and experimental measurement of isothermal extrudate swell of monodisperse and bidisperse polystyrenes. Journal of Rheology 61(5): 931-945.
• Sabattié, Elise, Tasche, Jos, Wilson, Mark Richard, Skoda, Maximilian W. A., Hughes, Arwel V., Lindner, Torsten & Thompson, Richard (2017). Predicting Oligomer/Polymer Compatibility and its Impact on Nanoscale Segregation in Thin Films. Soft Matter 13(19): 3580-3591.
• Zhang, Yiwei, Parnell, Andrew J., Pontecchiani, Fabio, Cooper, Joshaniel F. K., Thompson, Richard L., Jones, Richard A. L., King, Stephen M., Lidzey, David G. & Bernardo, Gabriel (2017). Understanding and controlling morphology evolution via DIO plasticization in PffBT4T-2OD/PC71BM devices. Scientific Reports 7: 44269.
• Weir, M. P., Johnson, D. W., Boothroyd, S. C., Savage, R. C., Thompson, R. L., King, S. M., Rogers, S. E., Coleman, K. S. & Clarke, N. (2016). Distortion of Chain Conformation and Reduced Entanglement in Polymer–Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites. ACS Macro Letters 5(4): 430-434.
• Weir, Michael P., Johnson, David W., Boothroyd, Stephen C., Savage, Rebecca C., Thompson, Richard L., Parnell, Steven R., Parnell, Andrew J., King, Stephen M., Rogers, Sarah E., Coleman, Karl S. & Clarke, Nigel (2016). Extrinsic Wrinkling and Single Exfoliated Sheets of Graphene Oxide in Polymer Composites. Chemistry of Materials 28(6): 1698-1704.
• Smith, R.F., Boothroyd, S.C., Khosravi, E. & Thompson, R.L. (2016). A facile route for rubber breakdown via cross metathesis reactions. Green Chemistry 18(11): 3448-3455.
• Hart, James M., Kimani, Solomon M., Hutchings, Lian R., Grillo, Isabelle, Hughes, Arwel V., Clarke, Nigel, Garcia-Sakai, Victoria, Rogers, Sarah E., Mendis, Budhika & Thompson, Richard L. (2016). Spontaneous Nanoparticle Dispersal in Polybutadiene by Brush-Forming End-Functional Polymers. Macromolecules 49(4): 1434-1443.
• Briddick, A., Li, P., Hughes, A., Courchay, F., Martinez, A. & Thompson, R.L. (2016). Surfactant and Plasticizer Segregation in Thin Poly(vinyl alcohol) Films. Langmuir 36(3): 864-872.
• James, Christopher D., Jeynes, Christopher, Barradas, Nuno P., Clifton, Luke, Dalgliesh, Robert M., Smith, Rebecca F., Sankey, Stephen W., Hutchings, Lian R. & Thompson, Richard L. (2015). Modifying Polyester Surfaces with Incompatible Polymer Additives. Reactive and Functional Polymers 89: 40-48.
• Lowery, R., Gibson, M.I., Thompson, R.L. & Fullam, E. (2015). Deuterated Carbohydrate Probes as ‘Label-Free’ Substrates for Probing Nutrient Uptake in Mycobacteria by Nuclear Reaction Analysis. Chemical Communications 51(23): 4838-4841.
• Kimani, S.M., Thompson, R.L., Hutchings, L.R., Clarke, N., Billah, S.M.R., Sakai, V.G. & Rogers, S.E. (2014). Multihydroxyl End Functional Polyethylenes: Synthesis, Bulk and Interfacial Properties of Polymer Surfactants. Macromolecules 47(6): 2062-2071.
• Kingsley, James W., Marchisio, Pier Paolo, Yi, Hunan, Iraqi, Ahmed, Kinane, Christy J., Langridge, Sean, Thompson, Richard L., Cadby, Ashley J., Pearson, Andrew J., Lidzey, David G., Jones, Richard A. L. & Parnell, Andrew J. (2014). Molecular weight dependent vertical composition profiles of PCDTBT:PC71BM blends for organic photovoltaics. Scientific Reports 4: 5286.
• Hardman, S.J., Hutchings, L.R., Clarke, N., Kimani, S.M., Mears, L.L.E., Smith, E.F., Webster, J.R.P. & Thompson, R.L. (2012). Surface Modification of Polyethylene with Multi-End-Functional Polyethylene Additives. Langmuir 28(11): 5125-5137.
• Kimani, SM, Hardman, SJ, Hutchings, LR, Clarke, N & Thompson, RL (2012). Synthesis and surface activity of high and low surface energy multi-end functional polybutadiene additives. Soft Matter 8(12): 3487-3496.
• Morse, AJ, Edmondson, S, Dupin, D, Armes, SP, Zhang, Z, Leggett, GJ, Thompson, RL & Lewis, AL (2010). Biocompatible polymer brushes grown from model quartz fibres: synthesis, characterisation and in situ determination of frictional coefficient. Soft Matter 6(7): 1571-1579.
• Mokarian-Tabari, P Geoghegan, M Howse, JR Heriot, SY Thompson, RL & Jones, RAL (2010). Quantitative evaluation of evaporation rate during spin-coating of polymer blend films: Control of film structure through defined-atmosphere solvent-casting. The European Physical Journal E 33(4): 283-289.
• Thompson, RL (2010). Solvent-free polymer lithography via the Kirkendall effect. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms 268(11-12): 2181-2184.
• Hutchings, LR, Douglas, CJR Rhodes, CL Carswell, WD Skoda, MWA, Webster, JRP & Thompson, RL (2010). Nonsolvent Annealing Polymer Films with Ionic Liquids. Langmuir 26(19): 15486-15493.
• Thompson, RL Hardman, SJ Hutchings, LR Narrainen, AP & Dalgliesh, RM (2009). pH-Controlled Polymer Surface Segregation. Langmuir 25(5): 3184-3188.
• I.A. Ansari, N. Clarke, L.R. Hutchings, A.P. Narrainen, A.E. Terry, R.L. Thompson & J.R.P. Webster (2007). Aggregation, adsorption, and surface properties of multiply end-functionalized polystyrenes. Langmuir 23(8): 4405-4413.
• Clough, A.S., Collins, S.A., Gauntlett, F.E., Hodgson, M.R., Jeynes, C., Rihawy, M.S., Todd, A.M. & Thompson, R.L. (2006). In situ water permeation measurement using an external He-3(2+) ion beam. Journal of Membrane Science 285(1-2): 137-143.
• Higgins, A.M., Martin, S.J., Geoghegan, M., Heriot, S.Y., Thompson, R.L., Cubitt, R., Dalgliesh, R.M., Grizzi, I. & Jones, R.A.L. (2006). Interfacial structure in conjugated polymers: Characterization and control of the interface between poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) and poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole). Macromolecules 39(19): 6699-6707.
• Narrainen, A. Pillay, Hutchings, L. R., Feast, W. J., Thompson, R. L., Ansari, I. A. & Clarke, N. (2006). Fluorocarbon end-functionalized polymers from poly(arylether) dendritic initiators. Macromolecular Symposia 231(1): 103-109.
• L. R. Hutchings, A. P. Narrainen, S. M. Eggleston, N. Clarke & R. L. Thompson (2006). Surface-active fluorocarbon end-functionalized polylactides. Polymer 47(24): 8116-8122.
• A. P. Narrainen, N. Clarke, S. M. Eggleston, L. R. Hutchings & R. L. Thompson (2006). Surface adsorption of polar end-functionalised polystyrenes. Soft Matter 2(11): 981-985.
• A. Pillay Narrainen, L.R. Hutchings, I. Ansari, N. Clarke & R.L. Thompson (2006). Novel multi end-functionalised polymers. Additives to modify polymer properties at surfaces and interfaces. Soft Matter 2(2): 126-128.
• R. L. Thompson, M. T. McDonald, J. T. Lenthall & L. R. Hutchings (2005). Solvent accelerated polymer diffusion in thin films. Macromolecules 38(10): 4339-4344.
• A. M. Higgins, S. J. Martin, R. L. Thompson, J. Chappell, M. Voigt, D. G. Lidzey, R. A. L. Jones & M. Geoghegan (2005). Surface segregation and self-stratification in blends of spin-cast polyfluorene derivatives. Journal of Physics-Condensed Matter 17(8): 1319-1328.
• Clarke, N., Colley, F.R., Collins, S.A., Hutchings, L.R. & Thompson, R.L. (2005). Self-diffusion and viscoelastic measurements of polystyrene star polymers. Macromolecules 39(3): 1290-1296.
• F. T. Kiff, R. W. Richards & R. L. Thompson (2004). Solvent vapor mediated polymer adsorption in thin films. Langmuir 20(11): 4465-4470.
• J. Chappell, D. G. Lidzey, P. C. Jukes, A. M. Higgins, R. L. Thompson, S. O'Connor, I. Grizzi, R. Fletcher, J. O'Brien, M. Geoghegan & R. A. L. Jones (2003). Correlating structure with fluorescence emission in phase-separated conjugated-polymer blends. Nature Materials 2(9): 616-621.
• L. R. Hutchings, R. W. Richards, R. L. Thompson & D. G. Bucknall (2002). Film thickness effects on the distribution of high-molecular-weight heterotelechelic polymers. European Physical Journal E 8(2): 121-128.
• L. R. Hutchings, R. W. Richards, R. L. Thompson & D. G. BucknallA. S. Clough (2001). Partitioning of a heterotelechelic polystyrene to separate interfaces of thin films. European Physical Journal E 5(4): 451-464.
• L. R. Hutchings, R. W. Richards, R. L. Thompson & A. S. CloughS. Langridge (2001). Interface development in polycarbonate/poly(methyl methacrylate) bilayer films. Journal of Polymer Science Part B-Polymer Physics 39(20): 2351-2362.
• L. R. Hutchings, R. W. Richards & S. W. ReynoldsR. L. Thompson (2001). Small-angle neutron scattering from single arm labeled polybutadiene star polymers in dilute solution. Macromolecules 34(16): 5571-5578.