Dr Noreen L Thomas

Senior Lecturer

Loughborough University, Department of Materials

PH: 44 (1509) 223334
Email: [email protected]
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Background

Educated at Llwyn-y-bryn Girls’ School, Swansea and Newnham College, Cambridge. Graduated with 1st class honours degree in Materials Science. Also studied for PhD at the Department of Materials at Cambridge University on the subject of non-Fickian (Case II) diffusion in glassy polymers. Joined ICI and was immediately seconded to Oxford University to carry out post-doctoral research at the Department of Materials on hydration mechanisms of Portland cement. Obtained junior research fellowship at Wolfson College, Oxford. Moved to Runcorn, Cheshire to work at ICI’s technical centre at The Heath. Carried out research on bio-inorganic materials, corrosion inhibitors and novel paint coatings. In 1990 joined the research department of European Vinyls Corporation (now INEOS ChlorVinyls) as a project leader, developing new applications for PVC and providing technical support for customers. Joined the Department of Materials in 2003 as a lecturer in polymer technology and became senior lecturer in 2006.

Research Interests and Activities

Polymer sustainability issues
Biopolymers (Polylactic acid), Polyhydroxybutyrate)
PVC applications - foams, composites, novel additives
Recycling of polymers - particularly packaging & building products
Polymer nanocomposites
Weathering and degradation of polymers
Diffusion through polymer films

Major Qualifications

MA, PhD Cambridge, CEng, MIMMM

Major Publications

• Lim, B.C. , Thomas, N.L. and Sutherland, I., ''Surface Energy Measurements of Coated Titanium Dioxide Pigment'', Progress in Organic Coatings, 62, 2008, pp 123-128.
• Georgiadou, S., Thomas, N.L., Gilbert, M. and Brooks, B.W., ''Nonaqueous Polymerization of Vinyl Chloride: An Environmentally Friendly Process'', Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 112, 2009, pp 2472-2481.
• McLauchlin, A.R. and Thomas, N.L., ''Preparation and Thermal Characterisation of Poly(lactic Acid) Nanocomposites Prepared from Organoclays Based on an Amphoteric Surfactant'', Polymer Degradation and Stability, 94, 2009, pp 868-872.
• Zhang, M. and Thomas, N.L., ''Preparation and Properties of Polyhydroxybutyrate Blended with Different Types of Starch'', Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 116, 2010, pp 688-694. DOI: 10.1002/app.30991