User:Dr.BeauWebber

Dr. Beau Webber (1948-02-29 - ) is a materials physicist who researches into matter that is structured on the nano-scale to micro-scale using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR relaxation), neutron scattering and x-ray scattering techniques. In particular, he has studied the properties of liquids in nano-metric pores - the small sizes can greatly change the properties of ordinary materials - i.e. water/ice may freeze and melt at -20C. This structural melting and freezing point change is governed by the Gibbs-Thomson Equation, and has given rise to new techniques for measuring pore size distributions termed cryoporometry.

Dr. Webber has been at the University of Kent since 1972 (currently honorary research fellow), where he works with the Functional Materials Group in the School of Physical Sciences and is also an honorary research fellow at Heriot-Watt University where he works with the Reservoir Description, Geomechanics and Rock Physics, and Hydrates groups, in the Institute of Petroleum Engineering. Dr. Webber is also director of a micro SME company Lab-Tools Ltd, specialising in nano-science research, contract nano-metrology, and instrument design.

Dr. Webber is the author of numerous papers on the properties of confined liquids (publications), including the two review articles : "Structural and Dynamic Studies of Water in Mesoporous Silicas using Neutron Scattering and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance" and a "Review of NMR Cryoporometry" and is the creator of a new cryoporometric measurement technique "Neutron Diffraction Cryoporometry". He is currently studying the properties of liquids at interfaces, where there is some indication that water/ice may form a rotationally mobile state (termed "plastic ice" by analogy with other plastic crystals), discussed in the invited review article "Studies of nano-structured liquids in confined geometry and at surfaces".

The application of these techniques, particularly NMR Cryoporometry, include learning more about porous rocks (helping to improve oil, gas and water extraction), and studying building materials such as wood, cement and concrete. An exciting new application is charcoal and biochar - these materials are showing great promise for environmental purposes as soil improvers (for which they have been used since pre-history) and as carbon fixers. Beau Webber also builds and maintains a web page to promote live music in the county of Kent, UK : www.kentfolk.com

Page edits :
Nuclear magnetic resonance in porous media - section on NMR Cryoporometry added

Note: I will be developing the following sections for discussion, with the possibility of later moving versions to the correct places on Wikipedia : currently they are in my user page space :

Gibbs-Thomson Equation / Effect
User:Dr.BeauWebber/Gibbs-Thomson Equation / Effect

Themoporometry and Cryoporometry methods of measuring porosity
User:Dr.BeauWebber/Themoporometry and Cryoporometry methods of measuring porosity