Areas of expertise
- Defence manufacturing
- Explosives and Munitions
- Weapons Engineering
Background
A research chemist active in the field of energetic materials and ordnance science and technology with over 20 years' experience in the life assessment and formulation of propellants and explosives.
Senior Chemist at ROXEL (UK Rocket Motors) Ltd and visiting Fellow within the Propellant Research Group, Cranfield Defence and Security.
Research opportunities
Applications are invited for self-funded PhD students interested in the application of solid propellant chemistry and material science.
Current activities
My research focus is in understanding the mechanistic relationships of raw ingredient specification and formulation processes; and life assessment of propellants to validate and verify materials and physical/chemical ageing models. I have a particular interest in nitrocellulose (NC) and NC based formulations.
Current areas of interest/work
Formulation - ResonantAcoustic Mixing (RAM)
Formulation - Nitrocellulose processing for rocket propellant manufacture
Formulation - Solid propellant bond-line adhesion
Life Assessment - Nitrocellulose chemical decomposition mechanisms
Life Assessment - Nitrocellulose mechanical properties
Combustion - Lead-free ballistic modifiers for rocket propellants
Current grad students
Alonso ROMERO-JABALQUINTO - Nitrocellulose propellant investigation
Kharisma YAHAYA - Study of Double Base Propellants Modified with Graphene
Jacopo Aldrigo BONIFACIO - Additive Manufacture of Energetic Materials
Former grad students
Dr Colum O'CONNOR - Co-crystallisation of energetic materials
Dr Andrew CLAYDON - Resonant acoustic mixing (RAM) of high explosives
Dr Peter WILKINSON - Evaluation of Novel Propellants Manufactured from Commercially Available Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE) using Resonant Acoustic Mixing
Dr Erick GALANTE - Simulation of environmental effects of open burning of explosives
Dr Nathan FLOOD - Cast Double base propellant studies
Dr Robert HUDSON - Reduced Sensitivity (RS) RDX
Dr James TUCKER - A whole life assessment of extruded double base rocket propellants
Scientific Committee: International Nitrocellulose Symposium
Deputy Secretary: RSC - Formulation Science and Technology interest group
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Jabalquinto AR, Mai N, Belghiche S & Gill PP. (2024). Modified Arrhenius kinetics for double base propellant decomposition: Effect of water. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 227
- Jabalquinto AR, Mai N, Mohammed Y & Gill PP. (2023). Influence of humidity on the decomposition process of double base rocket propellant. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 218
- Claydon AJ, Patil AN, Gaulter S, Kister G & Gill PP. (2022). Determination and optimisation of Resonant Acoustic Mixing (RAM) efficiency in Polymer Bonded eXplosive (PBX) processing. Chemical Engineering and Processing - Process Intensification, 173(March)
- Wright CJ, Wilkinson PJ, Gaulter SE, Fossey D, Burn AO, .... (2022). Is ResonantAcoustic Mixing® (RAM) a Game Changer for Manufacturing Solid Composite Rocket Propellants?. Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics, 47(1)
- Wilkinson PJ, Weaver MC, Kister G & Gill PP. (2022). Styrene‐Ethylene/Butylene‐Styrene (SEBS) Block Copolymer Binder for Solid Propellants. Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics, 47(1)
- Galante EBF, Mai N, Ladyman MK, Gill PP, Temple TJ, .... (2021). Evaluation of small-scale combustion of an insensitive high explosive formulation containing 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO), 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN), and 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX). Journal of Energetic Materials, 39(1)
- Luppi F, Mai N, Kister G, Gill PP, Gaulter SE, .... (2019). Chemical Modification of β‐Cyclodextrins: Balancing Soft and Rigid Domains in Complex Structures. Chemistry – A European Journal, 25(68)
- Yahya PKI, Moniruzzaman M & Gill PP. (2019). Interaction and thermal studies on graphene oxide in NC/DEGDN/GO nanocomposites. RSC Advances, 9(60)
- Moniruzzaman M, Christogianni P, Vrcelj RM & Gill PP. (2018). Ultrasonic Studies of Solid Azobenzene-Decorated Polymer Thin Films. ACS Omega, 3(12)
- Fang X, Sharma M, Stennett C & Gill PP. (2017). Optical sensitisation of energetic crystals with gold nanoparticles for laser ignition. Combustion and Flame, 183
- Galante E, Temple T, Ladyman M & Gill PP. (2017). The UK Ministry of Defence Project Orientated Environmental Management System (POEMS). Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics, 42(1)
- Abdul-Karim N, Blackman CS, Gill PP & Karu K. (2016). The spatial distribution patterns of condensed phase post-blast explosive residues formed during detonation. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 316
- Abdul-Karim N, Blackman CS, Gill PP, Morgan RM, Matjacic L, .... (2016). Morphological Variations of Explosive Residue Particles and Implications for Understanding Detonation Mechanisms. Analytical Chemistry, 88(7)
- Hudson RJ, Moniruzzaman M & Gill PP. (2015). Investigation of Crystal Morphology and Shock Sensitivity of Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine Suspension by Rheology. Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics, 40(2)
- Abdul-Karim N, Blackman CS, Gill PP, Wingstedt EMM & Reif BAP. (2014). Post-blast explosive residue – a review of formation and dispersion theories and experimental research. RSC Adv., 4(97)
- Hudson RJ, Zioupos P & Gill PP. (2012). Investigating the Mechanical Properties of RDX Crystals Using Nano‐Indentation. Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics, 37(2)
Conference Papers
- Hudson R, Moniruzzaman M, Zioupos P & Gill P. (2015). Investigation of reduced sensitivity RDX
- Mai M & Gill P. (2012). ISO 17025 GPC analysis of NC
- Deacon P, Knight R, Macdonald A, Gill P, Mai N, .... (2010). Conclusions from the round robin evaluation of the nitrocellulose size exclusion chromatography method in STANAG 4178 (ed.2)
- Tucker J, Mai N, Gill P & Hand J. (2010). Assessment of propellant stabilizer extraction methods
- Mai N, Gill P, Bellerby J, Deacon P & Baker C. (2010). Whole life assessment of nitrocellulose in double base rocket propellants
- Hudson R, Gill P, Flower PQ & Cumming AS. (2010). Assessment of RDX morphology and defects
- Hudson R, Gill P, Flower PQ & Cumming AS. (2010). Thermal analysis of RDX using differential scanning calorimetry
- Deacon P, Macdonald A, Gill P, Mai N, Bohn M, .... (2009). An Update on the Round Robin Test to Evaluate the Nitrocellulose Size Exclusion Chromatography Method in STANAG 4178 (Ed. 2)
- Moniruzzaman M, Mai N & Gill P. (2009). Photo-induced changes in the viscosity and molecular weight of nitrocellulose
- Deacon P, Macdonald A, Gill P, Mai N, Bohn M, .... (2008). A round robin evaluation of the nitrocellulose gel permeation chromatography method proposed for Stanag 4178 (ed.2)
- Mai N, Agha A & Gill P. (2007). An investigation into the safety of the continued use of old tetryl in munitions
- Bellerby JM, Deacon P & Gill PP. (2006). Whole Life Assessment of Nitrocellulose in Double Base Rocket Propellants
- Gill PP, Bellerby JM & Welland-Veltmans WHM. (2004). Decomposition of Crystaline Hydrazinium Nitroformate (HNF)
- Gill PP & Bellerby JM. (2004). Gases Evolved from Pentaerythritoltetranitrate (PETN) in Air at 100 C
- Gill PP, Bellerby JM & Blackman CS. (2001). Decomposition of Hydrazinium Nitroformate (HNF) between 60C and 80C
