Dr Peter Broadbent

Profile

I am a postgraduate researcher who has worked in an academic environment since being awarded my PhD in 1993. I have worked in the Department of Colour Chemistry and School of Design at the University of Leeds, and the School of Materials at the University of Manchester. My research areas include the coloration of textile and non-textile materials, textile finishing, cosmetics, digital printing, 3D printing, and security features.

I graduated in Colour Chemistry and Dyeing from the University of Leeds in 1986 and obtained his MSc (Chemical modification of polyamide and cellulosic fibres to enhance dyeing properties) and PhD (Chemical modification of cellulosic fibres and its effect on dyeing properties), also from the University of Leeds in 1989 and 1993 respectively. Following my PhD under the supervision of Professor David Lewis in the Department of Colour Chemistry, I continued my collaboration with David Lewis and was employed until 2001 by Leeds Innovations, University of Leeds and based in the Department of Colour Chemistry as a Research Fellow. My main activities focused on the arylation of cotton and wool fibres to impart printability and dyeability with disperse dyes; the synthesis of novel reactive disperse dyes for normal and micro-fibre nylon 6,6; the development of novel dyeing and bleaching systems for hair; the synthesis and development of novel fibre reactive dyes for textile substrates; the synthesis and development of novel fibre reactive quaternary agents for use in the salt-free dyeing of cellulosic fibres. I joined Lumenia Limited as a research scientist in 2001 where I developed novel inks and fabric prepare treatments for the digital printing of natural and synthetic textile substrates. Subsequently I returned to the Department of Colour Chemistry, University of Leeds in 2003 as a Senior Research Fellow and worked in the development of novel infra-red absorbers and phosphors for high security printing; novel methods to print 3-dimensional objects using the desk-top ink-jet printer; the development of novel ink formulations and printing processes for the ink-jet printing of textile substrates. In 2011, I briefly joined the School of Materials, University of Manchester in 2011 as a Research Assistant where I developed novel agents to improve the chlorine stability of dyed textile substrates and novel formaldehyde free hair straightening agents. In 2013, I joined the School of Design under the supervision of Professor Chris Carr. My main activities currently focus on the development of novel formaldehyde free hair straightening agents; the development of novel hair dyes; the arylation of natural fibres and the development of novel methods to dye them from carbon dioxide; the development of formaldehyde free durable press agents for cotton; the development of novel IR absorbing paper substrates for high security applications; the development of novel methods to digitally print Braille and 3D images. I am a member of the Society of Dyers and Colourists and the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists.

My research interests include the modification of natural fibres to improve their performance and dyeing properties; synthesis of novel fibre reactive dyes for both textile and cosmetic applications; development of novel security features for high security applications such as brand protection or banknotes; development of novel security papers; development of novel inks for the digital printing of textile and non-textile substrates, development of novel fabric pre-treatments for use in digital printing; development of 3D digital printing process; development of systems for the digital printing of Braille or raised images from a conventional home/office desktop printer; synthesis of novel fibre protective agents. I am responsible for ensuring that all goods and services ordered within the School of Design are receipted with the PVAC Faculty Purchasing team following delivery. I am currently the health and safety co-ordinator for the School of Design.

Responsibilities

• School Health and Safety co-ordinator

Research interests

My research focuses on addressing the environmental and sustainability issues concerning the colouration industry. A key area of research I have undertaken involves the modification of natural fibres, such as cotton and wool, to make them dyeable with disperse dyes. This area of my research is now of greater importance as it would enable these fibres to be dyed from supercritical carbon dioxide, a process that is presently restricted to polyester fibres. A second area of great importance to me is improving the reactive dyeing process on cellulosic substrates through the modification of the substrate or the development of novel high fixation reactive dyes. This work has focused on the development of salt free dyeing systems and the development of high efficiency reactive dyes. In addition to textile coloration, I have also undertaken research focussed on improving the coloration of human hair. This research has focussed on developing new permanent hair dyeing processes using conventional textile dyes as an alternative to the currently employed oxidative hair dyes. This work has also focussed on the development of novel hair bleaching processes and the development of novel agents to repair hair damaged caused during the traditional hair bleaching and dyeing processes. A further area of research I have undertaken relates to the inkjet printing of textile substrates with reactive dyes. The work undertaken has concentrated on improving the fixation of reactive dyes on cellulosic substrates and the development of resist printing processes for cellulosic and polyester substrates. In addition, I have also worked on 3D printing processes using inkjet printing, in particular the development of novel inks to enable the printing of braille from a conventional home/office inkjet printer. Another area I have undertaken considerable research is the development of novel infra-red absorbers and phosphors for high security printing, especially for the protection of banknotes or branded goods. 

Qualifications

• PhD Colour Chemistry & Dyeing
• MSc Colour Chemistry & Dyeing
• BSc Colour Chemistry & Dyeing

Professional memberships

• Society of Dyers and Colourists
• American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists