Nano-Cellulose & Bio-Composites (NCBC)
Nano-cellulose laboratory is equipped with a wide range of the state of the art facilities for nano celloluse production and characterisation, which include three main sections:
- Fibre disintegration and nano production,
- Suspension and drying, and
- Assessment with Nanosight and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA).
The EU and National Projects successfully completed include: EU ‘PANELS’: Enhancing the Efficiency and Competitiveness of Natural Fibre Composites in Construction; EU ‘CELLUWOOD’: Laminated Strong Eco‑material for Building Construction Made of Nano-cellulose-strengthened Renewable Materials; ‘NATCOM’ Optimally Efficient Production of High Strength Natural Fibre Composites; EU FIBCEM: Nanotechnology enhanced cement composites; and EPSCRC Nano Technology Enhanced Straw-based Materials. 
NCBC is a multidisciplinary research hub in Civil Engineering division. Sustainable development of construction products with added and improved functionality through the use of emerging technologies is of paramount importance in this research group. Highly insulating systems for buildings such as Aerogel and Vacuum Insulation Panels have been successfully developed in this group with the collaboration of leading industrial European partners. The completed European projects in this framework include: EU FP7 ‘VIP4ALL’: Highly Sustainable and Effective Production of Innovative Low Cost Vacuum Insulation Panels for Zero Carbon Building Construction and ‘ICECLAY’: Highly efficient production of ultra-lightweight clay-aerogel materials and their integrated composites for building insulation. The ongoing projects include: EU H2020 ‘GELCLAD’: Highly efficient cladding eco-panels with improved nano-insulation properties. The aim is to create a novel cost-effective, durable, industrialised and easy to install composite insulation cladding system, based on a single structured panel with excellent insulation properties.