Dr Alan Fernyhough

Dr Alan Fernyhough

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About

Dr Alan Fernyhough has 30 years of experience in the synthesis, characterisation, formulation and processing of polymers. Originally from the UK, he worked for 18 years in the polymer industry (BP; Kobe Steel) developing high performance products. Alan's research focuses on bioplastics, biobased additives, thermoset bioresins, biopolymer foams, and fibre composites.

Qualifications

PhD (Polymer Chemistry/Polymer Science), University of Liverpool, United Kingdom –1983
BSc (Hons) (Chemistry), University of Liverpool, United Kingdom -1980
18 years (1983-2002) in polymer industry (BP; Kobe Steel) prior to joining Scion (2002)

Research capabilities

  • Polymer Technologies: synthesis, characterisation, production, formulation and processing, end applications and recycling of polymers, especially for plastics, composites, foams, fibres, adhesives and coatings.
  • Precursor or monomer synthesis and production.
  • Industrial, non-food applications of biological resources and of biomass residues/wastes in chemicals, polymers, additives, new materials, formulations and processed products for polymer industries (adhesives, coatings, plastics, foams, fibres and composites).
  • Green chemistry and clean processing for polymers, biopolymers and chemicals and their end applications.
  • Bioplastics technologies : syntheses,  modification, additives, compounding, processing and reactive processing, for advanced performance in bioplastics  (films, extrusion, compounding,  injection moulding, thermoforming, foaming processes etc);
  • Bioresins  and Biofoams - biobased resins,  components and processes for thermoset resins, and for biopolymer foams.
  • Recycling of polymers, biopolymers and other materials.
  • Composites technologies – long fibre technologies for wood and natural fibre based thermoplastics and thermosets, including biobased options.

Career highlights

  • “Best Innovation Award: Bioplastics”– for Novel Biofoam Technology  - Munich, December 2008 (European Bioplastics  Assocn.) - 2008
  • Finalist at the Bayer Innovators Awards (NZ) for work on modified bioplastics – 2008
  • Kobe  Steel Ltd Technology Silver Awards for (a) flame retardant high performance plastic compounds for thin wall injection mouldings, (b) high performance pultruded glass fibre composites.
  • Fellow Royal Society Chemistry (FRSC)

Example Recent Patents:

  • WO2011002314:  Method For Producing Wood Fibre-Plastics Composite Products
  • WO2007073218:  Method For Producing Wood Fibre Composite Products 
  • WO2006001717:  Method For Producing Wood Fibre Pellets
  • WO9637901:       Water Swellable Compositions     WO 1996/037901
  • WO9637900:       Water Swellable Compositions   WO 1996/037900
  • US6448316, JP11199768:  Flame retardant polycarbonate-styrene (or acrylate) polymers, and/or copolymers and/or graft polymer/copolymer mixtures
  • US5935508,  EP0822056, JP10113925:  Fibre-reinforced compositions and methods for their production  
  • US5700417:     Pultrusion process for preparing fiber-reinforced composite rod
  • EP0202782:     Process for the production of a thermoplastic elastomer composition.  

Selected papers

Sawpan, M.A.  Pickering, K.L.  Fernyhough, A.  (Article in Press) Flexural properties of hemp fibre reinforced polylactide and unsaturated polyester composites. Composites Part A: App. Sci. &  Manuf. Available online 3 December 2011. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2011.

Van de Pas, D.,  Hickson, A., Donaldson,L., Lloyd-Jones,G., Tamminen,T., Fernyhough,A., Mattinen,M.L. Characterization of fractionated lignins polymerized by fungal laccases.  BioResources, Vol 6, No 2,1105-1121. (2011)

Pickering, K.L., Sawpan, M.A., Jayaraman, J., Fernyhough, A. Influence of loading rate, alkali fibre treatment and crystallinity on fracture toughness of random short hemp fibre reinforced polylactide bio- composites. Composites Part A: Appl..Sci  & Manuf. 42  (9), pp. 1148-1156 (2011). 

Sawpan,M.A., Pickering,K.L., Fernyhough,A.  Effect of various chemical treatments on the fibre structure and tensile properties of industrial hemp fibres. Composites Part A: App. Sci.& Manuf. 42 (8), pp 888-895 (2011).

Sawpan,M.A. , Pickering,K.L., Fernyhough, A. Improvement of mechanical performance of industrial hemp fibre reinforced polylactide biocomposites.  Composites Part A: App. Sci. & Manuf. 42,(3),pp 310-319 (2011)

Parker,K., Garancher. J-P,  Shah. S., Fernyhough, A. Expanded polylactic acid - an eco-friendly alternative to polystyrene foam. J. Cell. Plast. May 2011 vol. 47 no. 3 233-243. (2011)

Sawpan,M.A., Pickering, K.L., Fernyhough,A.  Effect of fibre treatments on interfacial shear strength of hemp fibre reinforced polylactide and unsaturated polyester composites  Comp. A: App. Sci.&  Manuf 42 (9), pp. 1189-1196  (2011).

Umer,R.,  Bickerton,S., Fernyhough,A. The effect of yarn length and diameter on permeability and compaction response of flax fibre mats  Composites Part A: App. Sci & Manu.,42 ( 7), pp 723-732 (2011).

Sawpan, M.A.; Pickering, KL; Fernyhough, A  (2009).  Characterisation of hemp fibre reinforced Poly(Lactic Acid) composites. Int. J. Mat & Prod Tech 36, 1-4, pp 229-240  

Umer, R., Bickerton, S., Fernyhough, A.  (2008) Modelling the application of wood fibre reinforcements within liquid composite moulding processes. Composites Part A: App. Sci & Manu.,39,4, 624-639

Osman, A.M., Wong, K.K.Y., Fernyhough, A.  (2007). The laccase/ABTS system oxidizes (+)-catechin to oligomeric products. Enzyme & Microb Tech 40(5), 1272-1279 

Fernyhough, A. Technologies For Making Bioplastic Products From Biomass Waste Streams.  Bioplastics Magazine, 2008-04 (2008). Michael Thielen Publishers.

Fernyhough, A. Advancing Bioplastics from Down-under. Bioplastics Magazine, 2007-01,: Michael Thielen Publishers, March 2007.

Fernyhough, A., Stuthridge,T, Bioplastics from waste: From Waste To Gold. Bioplastics Magazine, 2007-04. : Michael Thielen Publishers, December 2007

Umer, R., Bickerton, S., Fernyhough, A.  (2007). Characterising wood fibre mats as reinforcements for liquid composite moulding processes    Composites Part A: App. Sci & Manuf. 38 (2), pp. 434-448 

Weal, S; Anderson, S; Anderson, R,  Fernyhough A. et al (2007) Environmentally intelligent biocomposites. Advanced Materials And Processing IV   29-30, pp 255-258 

Osman, A.M., Wong, K.K.Y., Fernyhough, A. (2006) ABTS radical-driven oxidation of polyphenols: Isolation and structural elucidation of covalent adducts. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 346, (1),  pp 321-329

Osman, A.M., Wong, K.K.Y., Hill, S.J., Fernyhough, A. (2006).Isolation and the characterization of the degradation products of the mediator ABTS-derived radicals formed upon reaction with polyphenols. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 340 (2), pp. 597-603

Fernyhough, A., Markotsis, M. Long Biofibres & Engineered Pulps for High Performance Bioplastics & Biocomposites,  Book Chapter in Handbook of Bioplastics Engineering Applications (Wiley-Scrivener, 2011) Srikanth Pilla (Editor): Chapter 26:

Parker, K. Garancher, J-P.,  Shah,S.,  Weal,S.  and Fernyhough, A.  Polylactic Acid (PLA) Foams for Packaging Applications Book Chapter in Handbook of Bioplastics Engineering Applications (Wiley-Scrivener, 2011) Srikanth Pilla (Editor): Chapter 5: