UCL Chemistry

• Ceramic and powder processing
• Solid freeforming and rapid prototyping
• Ceramic ink-jet printing
• Extrusion freeforming (hard tissue scaffolds and metamaterials)
• Solid freeforming of 3D functional gradients
• Combinatorial and high throughput methods for materials discovery
• Polymer-clay nanocomposites 

Our work includes Polymer-clay Nanocomposites in which low levels of mineral addition increase mechanical and transport properties of polymers, Ordered, Biomimetic Mineral-polymer Composites in which layered minerals at high volume fraction emulate the structure of mollusc shells, Extrusion freeforming of EBG structures and hard tissue scaffolds and High Throughput experiments on ceramics. The image shows a robotic ink-jet printer for making thick film ceramic samples.

• UCL Centre for Materials Research

1. X.Lu, Y.Lee, S.Yang, Y.Hao, J.R.G.Evans, C.G.Parini, Solvent-based paste extrusion solid freeforming, J.Euro. Ceram. Soc. 30, 1-10, 2010
2. F.Akthar, J.R.G.Evans, High porosity (>90%) cementitious foams, Cement Conc. Res. 40, 352-358, 2010.
3. L.F.Chen, J.R.G.Evans, Spontaneous manufacturing: ceramic 128-well plates made by droplet drying, Adv. Appl. Ceram. 109, 51-55, 2010.
4. H.Y.Yang, X.P.Chi, S.Yang, J.R.G.Evans, Mechanical strength of extrusion freeformed calcium phosphate filaments, J. Mat. Sci. Mater. in Medicine 21 , 1503 2010
5. R.C.Pullar, Y.Zhang, L.Chen, S.Yang, J.R.G.Evans, A.N. Salak, D.A.Kiselev, A.L.Kholkin, V.M.Ferreira, N.McN.Alford, Dielectric measurements on a novel Ba1-xCaxTiO3 (BCT) bulk ceramic combinatorial library, J. Electroceram. 22, 245-251, 2009.

Professor J.R.G.Evans BSc, PhD, CEng, CSci, FIM has a wide background in the materials sciences, starting out with a degree in industrial metallurgy followed by a Ph.D in polymer-metal adhesion and surface science, two years as a post-doc in adhesive bonding, a short period in the specialist printing industry and four years in the Ceramics Department at Leeds University. He worked for 14 years at Brunel University helping to set up a very successful group in ceramic processing using injection moulding, adapting other polymer processes for ceramics, then pioneering the direct ink-jet printing of ceramics and related techniques. He moved to Queen Mary, University of London in 1998 focusing on solid freeforming for applications in hard tissue scaffolds and metamaterials and starting work on polymer-clay nanocomposites. He joined UCL in 2007 where he engages with the widely distributed Materials Science community throughout the College.

He has eclectic interests and is especially keen on the philosophy and history of science, believing fervently that their study, wisely mediated, benefits the imaginative and creative features of the scientific mind, helping to release, from the enclosures of the pedagogic process, a discovery mentality. His other interests are baroque music, to the consternation of his colleagues in adjacent offices and art blacksmithing to the consternation of his neighbours in adjacent houses.