PhD in Materials Science

High-purity quartz is a critical raw material for advanced industries such as semiconductors and optical fibres. The purification of quartz typically involves high-temperature chlorination to convert metallic impurities into volatile chlorides. The process efficiency, however, depends on a complex interplay of particle-scale interactions and particle/solid body interactions. Current industrial practice relies heavily on empirical optimisation, leading to inefficiencies in energy use and impurity removal. This PhD project proposes to develop a Coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics-Discrete Element Method (CFD-DEM) model to simulate and optimise the high-temperature chlorination process used by Krystal Technology Ltd, a UK-based leader in high-purity quartz production. This project will deliver the first comprehensive CFD-DEM model of the quartz chlorination process, providing mechanistic understanding and predictive tools for industrial-scale process design. The outcomes will directly benefit Krystal Technology by improving product quality, reducing waste, and enabling sustainable, low-carbon manufacturing of high-value materials. Academically, the work will contribute to the growing field of multiphase flow modelling.