Contact Dr Philip Gill

Areas of expertise

  • Defence manufacturing
  • Test and Evaluation
  • Explosives and Munitions

Background

I am a physical chemist specialising in solid propellant chemistry; investigating the material science and chemical properties of polymer/binders and explosive crystals to validate thermo-mechanical-chemical ageing models. 

Qualifications: Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry.  BSc in Chemistry and MSc in Surface Science and Catalysis, Liverpool University. PhD in Heterogeneous Catalysis from Department of Chemistry, Cardiff University. 

Current activities

My main research interest is in life assessment and manufacture of propellants.  I led a research team focused on all aspects of thermo-chemicial ageing,  manufacture and processing of nitrocellulose. Current and recent projects include "Nitrocellulose degrees of freedom -towards an improved nitrocellulose specification for rocket propellants, Ageing mechanism investigation of nitrocellulose containing PBXs, and Resonant Acoustic Mixing (RAM) of propellants and explosives.

My teaching interests are in gun and rocket propellants,  chemical stability and compatibility, explosive science and technology, analytical chemistry and forensic science.

Current PhD students
  • Current - Yahaya Mohammed - Novel propellants for aircraft ejection seat pyro cartridges and oil well stimulation.
  • Current - Andrew Claydon - Resonant acoustic mixing (RAM) of high explosives.
  • Current - Emily Bagguley - High speed weapon: Solid composite propellants for improved safety and mechanical properties
  • Current - Peter Wilkinson - Properties of  LOVA propellants containing new elastomeric binders.
  • Current - Colum O’Connor - Co-Crystalisation of energetic materials.
  • Current - Erick Galante - Simulation of environmental effects of open burning of explosives.
  • Current - Rabia Abid - Life Expectancy of solid rocket propellants.
Completed PhD students 
  • 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.

Clients

  • DE&S - DOSG
  • DSTL
  • BAE Systems
  • Atomic Weapons Establishment
  • ROXEL (UK Rocket Motors) Ltd
  • Chemring Group PLC
  • QinetiQ

Publications

Articles In Journals

Conference Papers

  • Hudson R, Moniruzzaman M, Zioupos P & Gill P (2015) Investigation of reduced sensitivity RDX. In: 2nd International Workshop on Advances in Solid Propellant Systems (IWAPS 2015), Pune, 12-13 March 2015.
  • Mai M & Gill P (2012) ISO 17025 GPC analysis of NC. In: 5th International Nitrocellulose Symposium, Spiez, 17 April 2012.
  • Tucker J, Mai N, Gill P & Hand J (2010) Assessment of propellant stabilizer extraction methods. In: 41st International Annual Conference of ICT, Karlsruhe, 29 June 2010.
  • Hudson R, Gill P, Flower PQ & Cumming AS (2010) Assessment of RDX morphology and defects. In: 41st International Annual Conference of ICT, Karlsruhe, 29 June 2010.
  • Tucker J, Mai N, Gill P & Hand J (2010) Effect of manufacturing processes on nitrocellulose in extruded double base propellant. In: 41st International Annual Conference of ICT, Karlsruhe, 29 June 2010.
  • Hudson R, Gill P, Flower PQ & Cumming AS (2010) Thermal analysis of RDX using differential scanning calorimetry. In: 41st International Annual Conference of ICT, Karlsruhe, 29 June 2010.
  • Deacon P, Knight R, Macdonald A, Gill P, Mai N, Bohn M, Pontius H, van Hulst M, de Klerk W & Baker C (2010) Conclusions from the round robin evaluation of the nitrocellulose size exclusion chromatography method in STANAG 4178 (ed.2). In: 41st International Annual Conference of ICT, Karlsruhe, 29 June 2010.
  • Mai N, Gill P, Bellerby J, Deacon P & Baker C (2010) Whole life assessment of nitrocellulose in double base rocket propellants. In: 41st International Annual Conference of ICT, Karlsruhe, 29 June 2010.
  • Deacon P, Macdonald A, Gill P, Mai N, Bohn M, Pontius H, van Hulst M, de Klerk W & Baker C (2009) An Update on the Round Robin Test to Evaluate the Nitrocellulose Size Exclusion Chromatography Method in STANAG 4178 (Ed. 2). In: 40th International Annual Conference of ICT, Karlsruhe, 23 June 2009.
  • Moniruzzaman M, Mai N & Gill P (2009) Photo-induced changes in the viscosity and molecular weight of nitrocellulose. In: 1st Korean International Symposium on High Energy Materials (1st KISHEM), Incheon, 6 October 2009.
  • Deacon P, Macdonald A, Gill P, Mai N, Bohn M & Pontius H (2008) A round robin evaluation of the nitrocellulose gel permeation chromatography method proposed for Stanag 4178 (ed.2). In: 39th International Annual Conference of ICT, Karlsruhe, 24 June 2008.
  • Mai N, Agha A & Gill P (2007) An investigation into the safety of the continued use of old tetryl in munitions. In: 9th International Symposium on the Analysis and Detection of Explosives, Paris, 2 July 2007.
  • Bellerby JM, Deacon P & Gill PP (2006) Whole Life Assessment of Nitrocellulose in Double Base Rocket Propellants. In: 37th ICT Conference, Karlsruhe, Germany, 24 April 2006.
  • Gill PP & Bellerby JM (2004) Gases Evolved from Pentaerythritoltetranitrate (PETN) in Air at 100 C. In: Proceedings of 13th Jan Hansson Symposium on Chemical Problems, Backaskog Castle, Kristianstad, Sweden, 6 June 2004.
  • Gill PP, Bellerby JM & Welland-Veltmans WHM (2004) Decomposition of Crystaline Hydrazinium Nitroformate (HNF). In: Proc. 35th Int. Annual Conf of ICT, Karlsruhe, Germany, 29 June 2004.
  • Gill PP, Bellerby JM & Blackman CS (2001) Decomposition of Hydrazinium Nitroformate (HNF) between 60C and 80C. In: 12th Symposium on Chemical Problems Connected with the Stability of Explosives, Karlsborgs Fastning, Karlsborg, Sweden13-17 May, 2001, 13 May 2001.
  • Gill PP, Mai N, Deacon P, Macdonald A & Bohn M A Round robin evaluation of the nitrocellulose gel permeation chromatography method proposed for Stanag 4178 (ed.2). In: Proceedings of 39th International Annual conf of ICT, Karlsruhe.

Books