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The Materials and Engineering Research Institute (often abbreviated MERI) is a dynamic interdisciplinary research institute inside Sheffield Hallam University. In the most recent RAE 2008, MERI scored highly against other research institutes in the United Kingdom. MERI was founded and based in Sheffield, England after the re-branding of the Materials Analysis & Research Services Center of Industrial Collaboration (MARS CIC). It specializes in materials engineering and offers consultancy services, materials analysis and materials testing facilities primarily for local Yorkshire companies.

MERI is formed of four research centers :
 * 1) Center for Automation and Robotics Research (CARR)
 * 2) Polymers, Nano-composites and Modelling Research Center (PNMRC)
 * 3) Structural Materials and Integrity Research Center (SMIRC)
 * 4) Thin Films Research Center (TFRC)

As well as the four research centers MERI also has a consultancy team, a professional services team and and engineering for life research network.

History
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Center for Automation and Robotics Research
The Center for Automation and Robotics Research (CARR) combines robotics research with academic teaching/learning and consultancy. CARR is the focal point of diverse robotics and automation projects which are developed alongside the postgraduate students from Sheffield Hallam University.

CARR has been creating a repository of practical solutions and knowledge as well as developing a source of inspiration for future projects and developments. A large range of industries are covered from art, health and well-being to industrial automation.

Within the CARR there is the Mobile Machine and Vision Laboratory and the Systems Modelling & Integration Research Group.

Polymers, Nano-composites and Modelling Research Center
The polymers, nano-composites and modelling research centre works with the study of advanced polymeric systems, the application of computer simulation, mathematical modelling and problem solving and nanotechnology.

This research centre, led by Chris Breen specializes in:
 * exfoliated clay-based polymeric nanocomposites which offer enhanced mechanical properties and can be used in packaging and coating applications.
 * the use of vibrational spectroscopy to the study of controlled release from polymer matrices, polymer formation, gelation and degradation, mapping and imaging of polymer formulations.
 * computer simulation and mathematical modelling of a wide range of different materials.
 * energy and efficiency measurement and modelling.
 * research, product development and minimising carbon and financial costs.

Structural Materials and Integrity Research Center
The Structural Materials and Integrity Research Center currently has no HORC. The research activities within the structural materials and integrity research centre are focused primarily on the characterisation/behaviour of structural and functional materials, so as to enable the prediction of component/structure lifetimes.

The centre includes technologists and scientists from a wide range of disciplines including electrochemistry, mechanical engineering, tribology and metallurgy.

Expertise covered in this research centre include:
 * electrochemical scanning techniques to asses corrosion durability
 * fatigue/fracture and environment-assisted fatigue
 * functionalised coatings for anti-corrosion, anti-fouling and anti-biotic applications
 * ceramics and tribology
 * joining processes, including welding and brazing.

Thin Films Research Center
The Thin Films Research Center is dedicated to the study and use of functional electronic materials for novel and innovative devices. These include optoelectronic devices, lasers, solar cells and high power transistors.

There is a large activity in the Center in the computer simulation and mathematical modelling of a range of materials and related materials processing techniques. We also carry out research in stellar physics.

Area's of Expertise
MERI delivers over 200 projects for the industry each year, ranging from SME's to multimillion pound research projects. MERI has a dynamic range of expertise and numerous academics to support each area or expertise.

Advanced Coatings
MERI continuously develops an expanding range of functional and decorative coatings for a broad variety of applications. They develop coatings that seek to enhance the properties and protect various different materials. These materials can be coated to help improve aesthetic appeal, corrosion resistance, high temperature performance, and reduce friction.

MERI uses two different types of coatings. These are physical vapor deposition and sol-gel.

Location
As MERI is a sub company from Sheffield Hallam University, they are based inside Sheffield Hallam. The MERI head office can be found on level 5 of the Norfolk building at Sheffield Hallam University in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

Sheffield Hallam University
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