Advanced materials

Innovation in advanced materials underpins all manufacturing sectors and is essential to the UK’s economic growth. Manchester is recognised as a global centre of excellence in advanced materials research and its translation from initial research to viable product.

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General Academic Industry Policy

At the forefront of advanced materials

Manchester – the home of graphene and other disruptive developments in advanced materials – leads across a broad portfolio of lab-to-market innovation that can be applied to a range of manufacturing and commercial sectors. These include:

• lightweight alloys and composites that are in high demand in the fast-changing aerospace and automotive sectors;
• materials for energy storage to provide breakthroughs in battery and energy storage technologies for sectors such as automotive and sustainable energy generation;
• 3D-weaving of textile composites that can provide complex parts to industries ranging from aerospace and automotive to the wind generation sector;  
• membrane and filtration technologies that are critical to businesses and agencies supporting food processing, water purification and wastewater treatment;
• anti-corrosion and materials for demanding environments in industries such as the oil, gas and nuclear energy sectors;
• bio-derived and biodegradable plastics that can be applied in a host of sectors and directly help companies meet the UK government’s green growth agenda; 
• biomedical materials to help transform the way we treat patients and the health care industry;
• ‘super smart’ materials that feature next-generation embedded sensors, applicable in the auto industry and may more sectors.

Helping industry deliver

Through industry-facing flagship facilities such as the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre and the Manchester-based Henry Royce Institute, we’re also able to deliver:

• rapid development and scale-up of graphene and other 2D materials applications;
• measurement and characterisation of materials using X-ray tomography  and other advanced imaging equipment;
• modelling and analysis, such as digital twin technologies and the ‘internet of materials’;   
• access to world-leading experts and equipment for commercially sensitive research and long-term partnerships.

Making an impact

Advanced materials at Manchester is focused on delivering the innovations that industry needs to ensure it is competitive and sustainable in a fast-changing global marketplace. Our innovation ecosystem works in a way that aims to deliver to real-world needs.

Work with us and you’ll be part of the University’s vision to create an advanced materials community in Manchester – Graphene City. Made up of scientists, engineers, innovators, investors, manufacturers and industrialists, this community will build a thriving knowledge-based economy by taking research breakthrough to the finished products that you will deliver.