🤝 The Testing Lab PLC worked collaboratively with the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) on a Doctoral research project led by Dr Samuel Abbey through the provision of specialist analytical testing. When high demand for analytical facilities at the university was anticipated to impact project timescales, the collaboration was extended to include The Testing Lab’s facilities, allowing the research to progress without delay and demonstrating the value of academic–industry partnerships in supporting timely research delivery.

🧪 Together with the research team (Dr Samuel Abbey PhD, SFHEA, CEng, FCIHT, Prof. Colin Booth and Jeremiah Jeremiah, MEng, BEng, MNSE R.Eng (COREN)), we undertook X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses on a range of treated and untreated soils. This joint work formed a key element of the doctoral study, enabling detailed chemical and mineralogical characterisation of clay-based materials. The analyses supported shared investigation into mineralogical composition and the structural changes associated with different stabilisation processes, contributing directly to the research objectives of the project.

🏭 Testing was carried out at The Testing Lab’s UKAS-accredited ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory in Doncaster. Results were presented in a clear and accessible format, combining summary tables with supporting instrument output graphs to facilitate joint interpretation of key mineralogical features.

As a partner organisation with expertise in specialist chemistry and materials testing, The Testing Lab values opportunities to work closely with universities and industry partners. We would be pleased to build on this collaboration with UWE Bristol by supporting future doctoral, academic, and industry-linked research projects requiring advanced materials characterisation and applied analytical insight.