Thesis Work for 'Future impregnation resins for large rotating machines'

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This position reports to

R&D Team Lead

Your role and responsibilities

This is a collaboration between ABB Corporate Research/Västerås, ABB Large Motors and Generators/Västerås, and KTH, Stockholm, Department Fiber and Polymer Technology. KTH is a strategic research partner to ABB in Sweden. Our business: ABB Corporate Research in Västerås, Sweden, drives R&D for all business areas within ABB to find solutions to ABB's next generation products and services. Our facility is equipped with state-of-the art laboratories and simulation environment. A large part of the premises is dedicated for developing new technologies for rotating electrical machines. ABB Corporate Research wants to create an interest in ABB's industrial challenges and ensures relevant competence through our collaboration with universities and research institutes. ABB Large Motors and Generators' unit in Västerås, Sweden, has an installed base of more than 3000 delivered large rotating machines globally. Main applications of ABB's large machines are for compressors, gas- and steam turbine generators, pump- and fan motors and refiners. Our customers operate within the industries of renewable energy, power generation, chemicals, paper, pulp, metal, and mining. The Department of Fiber and Polymer Technology at KTH is the largest academic institution on natural and synthetic polymers in Sweden. The combination of the traditionally separate fields of natural and synthetic polymers is unique and allows the department to address several important issues such as future demands on a sustainable material use in society. The research ranges from monomer and polymer syntheses and characterization to modelling/simulation, processing, long-term properties and material performance, degradation, and functionalities. Introduction of the thesis work: The impregnation resin is a critical component for large rotating machines in achieving electrical insulating properties as well as mechanical rigidity. The electrical insulation is constituted of a composite of resin impregnated mica paper. The resin is applied through a vacuum-pressure impregnation process, where the flow properties of the liquid resin are critical parameters for optimizing the process. The impregnated insulation is thermally cured in an oven. The curing time and temperature influence the properties of the solid mica/resin composite structures. The chemistry of the resin influences the process- and final properties of the insulation as well as impacts the work conditions at the manufacturing sites. The electrical, mechanical and thermal properties of the cured resin and insulation are important for the machine performance in operation. The scope of the project will be to investigate silicone impregnation resins with applications towards large rotating machines. The influence on processing properties and performance properties of the resin will be investigated with respect to addition of 2D-materials as fillers. The focus will be on material properties such as thermal, mechanical and electrical as well as process related properties such as rheological and curing kinetics. Details: • Start in 2025 • 30 ECTS/högskolepoäng(hp) equivalent to one semester • One student • Most of the work at KTH, some parts at ABB in Västerås You will mainly be accountable for: • Literature study on silicone resins for rotating machines and dispersion of particle fillers in resins. • Dispersion of 2D-materials in silicone resin and analysis of dispersion quality in cured samples • Experimental study on rheology, curing kinetics, thermal analyses as well as mechanical and dielectric properties of different resin/filler combinations. • Thesis writing in English

Qualifications for the role

• Pursuing an MSc degree in the domains of polymer technology, coatings technology, materials technology, organic chemistry.
• Studies in coatings technology, surface chemistry, polymer technology, polymer chemistry, polymer materials, organic chemistry and resin technology are advantageous.
• Language skills: English - oral as well as written.

More about us

For more information please contact: Recruiting Manager ABB; David Lindell, +46 (0)72 4613503 david.lindell@se.abb.com; Supervisor at ABB; Fredrik Sahlén, +46 (0)705 323170, fredrik.sahlen@se.abb.com; Supervisor at KTH; Mats Johansson, +46 (0)8-7909287 matskg@kth.se Positions are filled continuously. Apply with your CV, academic transcripts and a cover letter in English via ABB career page. We value people from different backgrounds. Could this be your story? Apply today or visit www.abb.com to read more about us and learn about the impact of our solutions across the globe. #MyABBStory #Li-onsite