Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Biographical Details:

Employed as a Research Fellow, I now have 8 years of work experience since my PhD. My experience is a mix of university, industrial, and semi-state research. I have worked on a wide range of projects, mainly in the areas of ceramic, glass and microelectronic materials. I hold a Masters in Engineering Science (Microelectronics) from Tyndall Institute, and graduated with a PhD in Materials Science from University of Limerick under the supervision of Prof. Robert Hill. In 2000 I joined the Dept. of Chemistry, Trinity College where I worked to develop ferrite materials in conjunction with Littelfuse (Ireland) Ltd. Subsequently, I transferred to the Electronic Engineering department where my duties mainly involved lecturing. During this time I also part-time lectured for the DIT, Kevin Street. In 2004 I became an active member of the MPRC, where my research is centred around a suite of ceramics processing and characterisation equipment which was donated to the MPRC from Enterprise Ireland at this time.

Research Interests:

At present my work is based around three funded projects: (1) RAP Career Start (40,000). Aim is to develop alkali-resistant porous glass. This project is being run in collaboration with Millipore (UK) Ltd. (2) BioWell (300,000). EU CRAFT Bio-energy project which aims to increase the yield of biogas from maize silage crop through anaerobic digestion. (3) Proof of Concept (85,217). Self-funded project to develop magnetostrictive cobalt ferrite for measurement of high currents.

Selected Peer Reviewed Journals

• A. Rafferty, A. M. Alsebaie, A. G. Olabi, T. Prescott. 2009. Alumina-zirconia nano-composites prepared via powder and colloidal processing methods. Journal Of Colloid And Interface Science, 329, 2, pp310-315.
• A. Rafferty, S. Bakir, D. Brabazon, T. Prescott. 2009. Calibration and characterisation using a laser-based magnetostriction measurement system. Materials And Design, 30, 5, pp1680-1684.
• A. Rafferty, Y. Gunko, R. Raghavendra. 2009. Investigation of the co-firing behaviour of varistor and NiZn ferrite multilayers. Materials Research Bulletin, 44, 4, pp747-752.
• Ali Eltmimi, Aran Rafferty, Pavel Nesterenko, John Hanrahan, Leon Barron and Brett Paull. 2009. Preparation and characterisation of carbon monolithic columns for chromatographic applications (under review). Journal Of Materials Chemistry,
• M. Biswas, E. McGlynn, M. O. Henry, M. McCann, A. Rafferty. 2009. Carbothermal reduction vapor phase transport growth of ZnO nanostructures: effects of various carbon sources (accepted by). Journal Of Applied Physics,
• A. Rafferty, D. Brabazon, T. Prescott. 2008. Sintering behaviour of cobalt ferrite ceramic. Ceramics International, Vol 34, Issue 1, pp15-21.
• M. Hasanuzzaman, A. Rafferty, A. G. Olabi, T. Prescott. 2008. Sintering and characterisation of nano-sized yttria-stabilised zirconia. International Journal Of Nanoparticles, Vol 1, Issue 1, pp50-65.
• M. Hasanuzzaman, A. Rafferty, A.G. Olabi, T. Prescott. 2007. Approach for sintering nano-sized yttria-stabilised zirconia. International Journal Of Nanomanufacturing, Vol 1, Issue 4, pp524-536.
• N.B. Ekreem, A.G. Olabi, T. Prescott, A. Rafferty, M.S.J. Hashmi. 2007. An overview of magnetostriction, its use and methods to measure these properties. Journal Of Materials Processing Technology, 191, 1-3, pp96-101.
• S. Balakrishnan, Y. K. Gun'ko, T. S. Perova, A. Rafferty, E. V. Astrova, R. A. Moore. 2005. Porous silicon - rare earth doped xerogel and glass composites. Physica Status Solidi A-applied Research, 202, 8, pp1693-1697.
• A. Rafferty, Y. Gunko, R. Raghavendra. 2004. An investigation of co-fired varistor-ferrite materials. Journal Of The European Ceramic Society, Vol 24, No 7, pp2005-2013.
• B. P. Kelleher, A. J. Simpson, K. O. Willeford, M. J. Simpson, R. Stout, A. Rafferty, W. L. Kingery. 2004. Acid phosphatase interactions with organo-mineral complexes: Influence on catalytic activity. Biogeochemistry, 71, 3, pp285-297.
• E V Astrova, T N Borovinskaya, A V Tkachenko, S Balakrishnan, T S Perova, A Rafferty and Y K Gunko. 2004. Morphology of macro-pores formed by electrochemical etching of p-type Si. Journal Of Micromechanics And Microengineering, Vol 14, Part 2, pp1-7.
• A. Rafferty, R. G. Hill, D. Wood. 2003. An investigation into the amorphous phase separation characteristics of an ionomer glass series and a sodium-boro-silicate glass system.. Journal Of Materials Science, Vol 38, No 11, pp2311-2319.
• A. Rafferty, R. Hill, B. P. Kelleher, T. F. O' Dwyer. 2003. An investigation of amorphous phase separation, leachability and surface area in an ionomer glass and a sodium-boro-silicate glass system. Journal Of Materials Science, Vol 38, No. 19, pp3891-3902.
• Clifford, A. Hill R, Rafferty, A. Mooney P, Wood D, Samuneva B, Matsuya S, J. 2001. The Influence of Calcium to Phosphate Ratio on the Nucleation and Crystallisation of Apatite Glass-Ceramics. Journal Of Materials Science : Materials In Medicine, Vol 12, No 5, pp461-469.
• A. Rafferty, A. Clifford, R. Hill, D. Wood, B. Samuneva, M. Dimitrova-Lukacs. 2000. Influence of Fluorine Content in Apatite Mullite Glass-Ceramics. Journal Of The American Ceramic Society, Vol 83, No 11, pp2833-2838.
• A. Rafferty, R. Hill, D. Wood. 2000. Amorphous Phase Separation of Ionomer Glasses. Journal Of Materials Science, Vol 35, No 15, pp3863-3869.
• R. G. Hill, A. Rafferty, P. Mooney, D. Wood. 2000. The influence of Glass Composition on Nucleation, Crystallisation, Microstructure and Properties of Apatite-Mullite Glass-Ceramics. Glass Science And Technology, Vol 73, Suppl C1, pp146-153.
• Burggraf C, Koenig C, Siffert P, Hage-Ali M, Winfield R, Kelly P, Rafferty A, Uggerhoj E, Medenwaldt R, Dunhill T, Skuse K. 1998. Developments of capillaries in glass for X-ray focussing: Application of X-ray microbeams in crystallography. Journal De Physique, Vol 8, Part 5, pp413-419.
• A. Rafferty. 1995. Prosthetic hip replacements; a review. Technology Ireland, Vol 27, No 2, pp19-21.

Selected Chapters

• D. Brabazon & A. Rafferty. 2008. Advanced Characterisation Techniques for Nanostructures. Emerging Nanotechnologies for Manufacturing (under review).

Reviews

• A. Rafferty & D. Brabazon. 2008. Development of Controlled Pore Glass; recent relevant patents in the field (in prep) . Recent Patents On Nanotechnology,

• Ali Eltmimi, Leon Barron, Pavel Nesterenko, Aran Rafferty, John Hanrahan and Brett Paull., Modified carbon monolithic columns for chromatographic applications., HPLC 2008, The 33rd International Symposium on High Performance Liquid Phase Separations and Related Techniques. , 02-DEC-08 - 05-DEC-08, Kyoto, Japan
• A. Clarke, A. G. Olabi, A. Rafferty, T. Prescott and K. Benyounis., Finite element analysis of homogeniser valve parts., TCN CAE; International Conference on Simulation Based Enginering and Sciences., 16-OCT-08 - 17-OCT-08, Venice
• N. B. Ekreem, A. Rafferty, S. A. Mazlan, T. Prescott and A. G. Olabi., Prediction and Measurement of Strong Magnetic Fields using Computational FEMM Modelling, TCN CAE; International Conference on Simulation Based Enginering and Sciences, 16-OCT-08 - 17-OCT-08, Venice
• Ali Eltmimi, Pavel Nesterenko, Aran Rafferty, John Hanrahan and Brett Paull., Preparation, characterisation and modification of carbon monolithic columns for chromatographic applications., Analytical Research Forum, 21-JUL-08 - 23-JUL-08, University of Hull, Hull, UK.
• Hasan uz Zaman, A. Rafferty, A. G. Olabi, T. Prescott,, Sintering and Characterisation of Nano-Sized Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia, 14th Int. Conference on Composites/Nano Engineering (ICCE - 14)., 02-JUL-08 - 08-JUL-08, Boulder, Colorado, USA.
• Ali Eltmimi, Pavel Nesterenko, Aran Rafferty, John Hanrahan and Brett Paull, Preparation and Characterisation of Carbon Monolithic Phases for Chromatographic Applications., 60th Irish Universities Chemistry Research Colloquium, 11-JUN-08 - 13-JUN-08, University College Cork, Cork.
• A.P. Clarke, A.G. Olabi, T. Prescott, A. Rafferty,, Development of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for Complicated Flow., Symposium for Mechanical Engineering Research and Practice (SMERP)., 29-MAY-08 - 29-MAY-08, Dublin City University
• Ali Eltmimi, Pavel Nesterenko, Aran Rafferty, John Hanrahan, Jonathan Bones and Brett Paull, Modified Graphitised-Carbon Monolithic Columns for Chromatographic Applications. (Winner of Best Poster Prize)., Analytical Research Forum 2007, 16-JUL-07 - 18-JUL-07, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
• Ali Eltmimi, Pavel Nesterenko, Aran Rafferty, John Hanrahan, Jonathan Bones and Brett Paull, Carbon Monoliths Modified with Gold and Silver Nanoparticles as Stationary Phases for Chromatographic Application, HPLC 2007, 17-JUN-07 - 21-JUN-07, Ghent, Belgium.
• Ali Eltmimi, Pavel Nesterenko, Aran Rafferty and Brett Paull., Carbon monolithis materials for chromatographic application., 4th Biennial Conference on Analytical Sciences in Ireland., 11-APR-06 - 12-APR-06, DIT, Dublin.
• Hasan uz Zaman, A. Rafferty, A. G. Olabi, T. Prescott, Sintering of nano-sized, yttria-stabilised zirconia., MED 06. International conference on materials, energy and design., 14-MAR-06 - 17-MAR-06, DIT Bolton St. Dublin.
• A. Alsebaie, A. G. Olabi, A. Rafferty, T. Prescott, Characterisation of alumina-zirconia composites prepared by traditional and colloidal processes, In: A. Abdulwahed, N. Zreiba and T. Aboud ed.Proceedings of the 4th Arab Congress on Materials Science, ACMS-IV, 26-SEP-05 - 28-SEP-05, Tripoli, Libya, 390 - 400
• Aran Rafferty, Sadick Bakir, Dermot Brabazon, Tim Prescott, A laser based magnetostriction measurement system., International Manufacturing Conference (IMC 22)., 31-AUG-05 - 02-SEP-05, IT Tallaght, Dublin.
• A. Alsebaie, A. G. Olabi, A. Rafferty, T. Prescott, Preparation, characterization and mechanical testing of alumina-zirconia composites, 8th Annual Sir Bernard Crossland Symposium., 06-APR-05 - 07-APR-05, Queen¿s University Belfast, 171 -
• S. Balakrishnan, Y. K. Gun'ko, T. S. Perova, A. Rafferty, R. A. Moore, and E. V. Astrova, Investigations on europium doped alumino-silicate xerogel incorporated in micro-channel glass and porous silicon, Opto-Ireland 2005: Optoelectronics, Photonic Devices, and Optical Networks., 04-APR-05 - 06-APR-05, Royal Dublin Society (RDS), Dublin., 647 - 653
• A. Rafferty, Y. Gunko,, Co-fired varistor-ferrite multilayers prepared using thick film technology., Electroceramics XI, 9th International conference on electroceramics and their applications., 31-MAY-04 - 03-JUN-04, Cherbourg, France.
• S. Balakrishnan , E. V. Astrova, T. N. Borovinskaya, A. V. Tkachenko, T. S. Perova, A. Rafferty and Y. K. Gunko, Investigations of the morphology of nanopores obtained by electrochemical etching of silicon, Poster presentation., 27th Annual Microscopical Society of Ireland Meeting., 10-SEP-03 - 12-SEP-03, University College Cork.
• S. Balakrishnan, A. Rafferty, T. S. Perova and Y. K. Gunko., Investigations of rare earth doped nanocomposites of macro-porous silicon., 1st Annual Nanotechnology Symposium. Growing Nanotechnology in Ireland,, 05-SEP-03 - 05-SEP-03, University College Cork, Cork.