Martyn Bennett
Rubber Expert Witness

Rubber Expert Witness Martyn Bennett

Martyn Bennett is an experienced Director Of Materials with a demonstrated history of working in the polymer industry. Skilled in Polymer Physics, elastomer technology and manufacturing, Polymer Chemistry, Rheology, Research and Development (R&D), and Composites. Keen interest in recycling and sustainable materials proven experience in R & D, problem solving and and expert witness work Strong consulting professional with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) (Hons) focused in Physics & Materials from Sheffield Polytechnic, now Hallam University.​

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Reporting to Chief Technology Officer of Avon Rubber Plc technology scouting, long-term strategic opportunities. Identified new technologies for Acoustic applications, CBRN protection filtration, thermochromic materials, tyre monitoring, silica recovery from tyres. On notification of impending redundancy formed Midsomer Science as a materials consultancy to deliver expertise to the industry. On behalf of ARTIS completed “rubber expert” role as part of multi million pound legal case against major tyre company working with legal team and tyre expert from Australia as a result of fatal incident. The company in question settled out of court. The role required inspections of the failed tyre, assessing failure modes and likely causes as well as reviewing their materials and manufacturing processes.  
  
• Chief Scientist – ARTIS - 2008-2018 : Responsible for a team of 9 scientists, and technicians : Reporting to Chief Technology Officer of Avon Rubber Plc : Delivering a global consultancy business for materials related issues: Responsible for all aspects of the business, managerial, financial and technical: Involved with suppliers, production, customers and senior management to CEO level.Presentations at national and international events and conferences.  
  
• Rubber Materials Development and Testing – level Intermediate to Advanced: Particular expertise is in processing, problem solving, failure analysis, testing and method development. Fully conversant with FMEA and 8D problem solving techniques used in the automotive industry. Developed a range of new testing techniques for rheology, mechanical and fatigue performance, electrochemical behaviour and acoustic performance of automotive air intake systems.  
  
• Statistical Experimental Design and Analysis – Level : Advanced / trainer : particular expertise in setting up experimental programmes and the analysis and interpretation of the statistical models particularly in the development of new materials, test methods and applications. Developed own software to solve DOE models.Development of computer based models (visual Basic ) to mimic the behaviour of rubber materials. have worked particularly on the development of rheological models and some work on the vibroacoustic and RF absorption properties of rubbers.  
  
• Manufacture and failure analysis : Involvement with Avon Tyres through new projects dept looking at mixing process developments and interpretation and implementation of mixer monitoring. Looked at tyre manufacture and instrumentation of temperatures in the vulcanisation process, crawler track manufacture and failure analysis, hose manufacture and failure analysis, engine mount manufacture and process development, downhole drilling motor manufacture and failure analysis and many other product related issues  
  
• Sustainability : 2017 launched the sustainable materials group with C.Norris focussed on the recycling of tyres and the recovery of Carbon black, supporting the tyre recycling industry. This group is now recognised as a world leader in tyre recycling knowledge. Through this group developed a process to recover silica from end of life tyres, which I now patented throughout Europe, USA, and awaiting confirmation for Canada 

Martyn has extensive knowledge of rubber production and processing having developed rheological characterisation and its interpretation for the company. Martyn is a recognised expert in experimental design and has developed software to analyze this information for process optimisation. Martyn is recognised throughout the industry as an expert and has extensive contacts throughout industry and academia. He has supervised 4 PhD projects as industrial expert through Bath, Loughborough, and Queen Mary universities. He was part of the global team organizing the highly successful International Rubber Conference in London Sept 2019, and the Rubbercon23 conference in Edinburgh 2023, and remains an active member of the Elastomer Group of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, of which he is a fellow.


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2019 - Present
Midsomer Science Ltd - Owner/Director ​

• Working for Midsomer Science Ltd as independent contractor as of Feb 2020 , offering consultancy and expert opinion on elastomeric materials and products, including: Consultancy on CBRN product manufacturing and processing: development of sensor systems for in-situ tyre monitoring: Rubber technology training for international rubber manufacturing company: consultancy for agricultural project on yield improvement for pot grown plants: Expert witness in the field of polymer science for multinational law firm for product failure case resulting in successful outcome for the plaintiff and £11.3m damages (HT-2018-000046 DANA Axle UK Vs Freudenberg FST GMBH). Expert Witness for large, international commercial airline regarding manufacturing/ design/ materials defects.(Settled out of court). The role required assessment of materials defects and process protocols in relation to functionality of the product. Expert Collaborator in Innovate UK project with Silent Sensors Ltd designing a sensor system for Tyres used in Mining industry.(10054633 Intense). Providing insight and samples of rubber materials for tyre manufacture and sensor compatibility.

2007 - 2019
ARTIS - Chief Scientist

• Form ARTIS from the MDC team and resources

2002 - 2007
Avon Rubber plc – Sole R&D Manager

• Sole Management of Avon Rubber Plc R&D Team 

2001 - 2002
Avon Rubber plc – Joint R&D Manager

• Joint Management of Avon Rubber Plc R&D Team

1998 - 2001
Avon Rubber plc – Senior Research Scientist

• Oversee set up of Avon Rubber plc materials development center (MDC)

1991 - 1998
Avon Rubber plc - Senior Research Scientist

• Various projects

1989- 1991 
Avon Rubber plc - Research Scientist Avon

• Various projects

1987- 1989
Teaching company Associate Bristol University / Avon Rubber

• Research Scientist Rubber rheology and Die exit effects

1983- 1985
Polymer Research Group – Sheffield City Poly (Now Hallam
University) British Food Manufacturing Industry Research
Association

• Researcher – rheology and processing of Confectionery

AFFILIATIONS 

• Loughborough University Dept Materials Industrial Advisory Board (member for >10 years, Chair for 5 yrs) - retired
• Queen Mary University School of Engineering Industrial Advisory Board (Materials)
• IOM3 Polymer Society Board Member ( retired )
• KTN Polymer Industry Advisory Group ( retired )
• Elastomer Group Board Member
• Director British Rubber & Polyurethane Products Association 2017
• International Rubber Conference 2019 – organizing committee and scientific advisory committee member
• Visiting Industrial Fellow, Bath University Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technologies

AWARDS

• 2015 IOM3 Alan Glanville Award - Best Published Paper ( joint Author )
• 2016 IOM3 Hancock Medal : Outstanding Contribution to the Rubber Industry

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EDUCATION
Professional qualification: Fellow of Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (FIMMM) 2014
Bachelor of Science: Physics/Metallurgy
Sheffield City Polytechnic – Sheffield, South Yorkshire

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