Key details
Dr Tong Deng
Associate Professor in Mechanical Process Engineering
Dr Tong Deng joined Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology for a PhD study on influences of particle dynamics within laboratory erosion testers in 1998. Since 2001, he started to work as an active researcher on bulk solids material handling processes at the Wolfson Centre. In the past 20+ years, he worked as a consultant engineer, a senior lecturer and an associate professor for both of the Wolfson Centre and the School of Engineering. His research mainly focused on the areas of erosive wear evaluation, electrostatics of particulate solids, characterization of material bulk properties, powder segregation, particle degradation, and pneumatic conveying of bulk solids. Tong led numerous research projects funded by public funding organisations such as EPSRC and industry such as Roche Holding AG as a principal investigator. He has been mentoring and supervising students at various levels successfully including dozens of MSc and PhD students.
He has published more than 60 archival journal papers and magazine articles plus 30+ conference presentations in all aspects of bulk solids handling. Since 2010, Tong has serviced more than 140 different companies funded 200+ projects at varying sizes for professional advice and challenge solutions. He serviced 64+ international journals as a reviewer and reviewed 200+ academic papers and is a member of organising and scientific advisory committees for a number of international conferences such as UK-China Particle Technology Forums.
Responsibilities within the university
Industrial consultancies and research
Research / Scholarly interests
- Erosive wear phenomenon and mechanisms of nano-structured composite materials
- Solid particle impact dynamic and material surface protection which helps of nano-structured reinforcement
- Electrostatic charge of fine particulates at micro or sub-micro levels
Nanoscience has revealed remarkable new material functions that have never previously been recognised. In terms of material failure due solid particle impacts, the nano-structured composite will not only provide surface protection of important equipment components, but also have strong potential on functions such as electrical, electronic and photovoltaic properties if the nano-structures use carbon nano-tube or CNTs-silicon nano-structures to provide conductive or semi-conductive functions.
These materials will have strong application potential in extreme environmental conditions, such as the aerospace industry, where materials suffer from serious erosive wear. In addition, nano-structured composites with electrostatic charges applied may open up potential for many extraordinary applications, such as sensor materials with extra high sensitivity, display materials, etc.
Currently Dr Deng's research, in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, is looking into the breaking point that try to establish nano-structures of CNT with any other polymer and ceramic, which may achieve the functions proposed.
Key funded projects
Investigation of Wear and Tribological Properties of Nano-Carbon Fabrics (NCF) Reinforced Ceramic Materials
VC-Scholarship in collaboration with University of Cambridge.
Tribological interactions of solid surfaces' exposed faces with interfacing materials and environment may result in loss of material from the surface. Therefore many studies on surface engineering have been carried out by using techniques such as heat treatment, surface hardening, surface coating or lubricants. These methods have had limited success to date and challenges remain. Nano-carbon tube polymer composites developed in Cambridge and tested in Greenwich have shown some potential in wear resistance improvement of such materials. These polymer composites have shown strong potential in aerospace applications, such as helicopter blades protection. However because polymer materials are soft, it limits the application for hard solids impact.
A research idea has been proposed that nano-carbon fabrics (NCF) reinforced ceramic materials will be developed with applications of carbon nanotube structures. If successful, this material will provide extremely high wear resistance and could be used as a high profile coating material for many applications in material handling processes and other industrial applications. However, there are still many unknowns in relation to material manufacturing and tribological study of materials.
This study has focused on investigation of wear and tribological properties of carbon nanotubes reinforced ceramic polymer composite materials. In the future, the wear mechanisms of nano-structured composites will be a major research area, although this research can be easily extended to other application areas.
Novel Approaches to Signal Acquisition and Processing in relation to Sensing Electrostatic Behaviour of Particulate Materials in Motion.
PhD project funded by the School of Engineering, University of Greenwich,
Serious problems with cohesive pharmaceutical powders balling and building up in powder handling and sieving processes has been reported by the University of Greenwich's industrial clients. These difficulties affect the quality of the batch, particularly the levels of the active ingredient across the sample range. Recent test work has illustrated different levels in electrostatic behaviour and this is starting to indicate the root of the behaviour. The research therefore proposes to develop and build upon the previous success of the use of the charge probes in order to allow the detection and monitoring of a number of pharmaceutical powders in motion.
Charge detection of solid particle is not easy because millions of particles are involved. Charge on particles will have change when particles have contact with different surface materials. This study focused on the development of an inductive sensing method and using this method to study the effect of various relevant variables, especially change in the surface material, environmental conditions, etc. The results of this research have provided a new charging sensing method for fine cohesive particulates, which can provide recommendations for alternative process changes.