Professor John M Parker

MA PhD FIMMM CEng FSGT

School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering

Emeritus Professor of Glass Science and Engineering

Curator, Turner Museum of Glass

Professor John Parker
Profile picture of Professor John Parker
j.m.parker@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 5514

Full contact details

Professor John M Parker
School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering
Sir Robert Hadfield Building
Mappin Street
91Ö±²¥
S1 3JD
Profile

I moved to 91Ö±²¥ from the University of Cambridge in 1971, having completed a first-class MA in Natural Sciences, a PhD and a post-doctoral NERC fellowship studying aluminosilicates with incommensurate structures. At 91Ö±²¥, I have developed interests in both the optical/structural properties of glasses and the technology of bulk glass making. I am actively involved in the International Commission on Glass and is past-president of both the Society of Glass Technology and the European Society of Glass Science and Technology.

Research interests

My key current interests are in glass structural analysis, particularly using information derived by optical spectroscopy, and the processes involved in glass crystallisation. Such interests support a project to predict optical spectra based on a knowledge of glass composition, for example for optical filter design; this approach has generated a study of colour control in relation to glass recycling, and the manufacture of low-cost UV opaque materials for containers that better protect their contents. It also led to work on coloured pigments for a variety of applications, and a study the art of glass staining in relation to the restoration of historic artefacts.

Optically active glasses also present many interesting challenges. For example, powder diffraction techniques using both synchrotron (Daresbury) and neutron (CERN) sources, combined with transmission electron microscopy and optical spectroscopy, have been used to study quantum dot development in silicate glasses, and the manufacture of transparent glass-ceramics, in which the precipitated crystalline phase contains an optically active dopant ion e.g. Cr3+:ZnAl2O4 and Er3+:CaF2. Such materials find applications as optical switches, amplifiers, up-converters and photon detectors. A potentially new area of interest is in encryption technologies.

My background in mineralogy has also led to a long-term study of crystalline defects in bulk glass manufacture, many of which arise during melting. This has created extensive industrial interactions and an interest in glass melting reactions; it culminated in the production of a monograph concerning defect identification which is still widely used in the glass industry. I have also worked on the development and characterisation of novel glasses for highly transparent optical fibres based on chalcogenides, fluorides and other halide ions. This has involved studies of glass stability and an identification of sources of defects, as well as an extensive study of the optical spectroscopy of impurity transition metal and rare-earth ions.

Throughout my career, I have worked closely with industry, including organisations such as British Telecom, Pilkingtons, Johnson Matthey, and Rockware Glass. I have also interacted with the Physics Departments at 91Ö±²¥, Brunel and Paisley, and with the Rutherford Appleton Laboratories.

Research group

Dr T Volotinen
Dr A Richardson
Mr P Hinder
Mr I Hickman

Research centres

Key projects

  • 2004 GTS (WRAP) Maximising Cullet Additions in the Glass Container Industry 2yr £25000
  • 2004 KTP Development of pigments for paints 4yr £194000
  • 2004 Framework 6 European Forum on New Glass Applications 3yr €75000
  • 2005 GTS (WRAP) Recycling contaminated glass 18m £25000
  • 2006 GTS (WRAP) Light protection of wine 18m £30500
  • 2006 KTP Lead free glaze development 2yr £115816
Publications

Journal articles

  • Parker JM & Durán A (2022) . Optical Materials Express, 12(8), 2938-2938. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Parker J & Barrett E (2021) 'II drink a glass to that. Glass International, 44(7), 66. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Parker J (2021) Prof. John Parker As flat as a pancake. Glass International, 44(5), 75. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Volotinen TT, Parker JM, Hollis DB & Niklasson GA (2019) . Physics and Chemistry of Glasses: European Journal of Glass Science and Technology Part B, 60(4), 157-169. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Parker J (2016) Well rounded. Glass International, 39(5), 38-38. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Parker J (2016) A tale of endurance. Glass International, 39(2), 39. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Fu J, Kobayashi M, Sugimoto S & Parker JM (2009) . Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 92(9), 2119-2121. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Volotinen TT, Parker JM & Bingham PA (2008) Concentrations and site partitioning of Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions in a soda-lime-silica glass obtained by optical absorbance spectroscopy. Physics and Chemistry of Glasses: European Journal of Glass Science and Technology Part B, 49(5), 258-270. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Fu J, Kobayashi M & Parker JM (2008) . Journal of Luminescence, 128(1), 99-104. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Fu J, Kobayashi M, Sugimoto S & Parker JM (2008) . Materials Research Bulletin, 43(6), 1502-1508. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Bingham PA, Parker JM, Searle TM & Smith I (2007) . Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 353(24-25), 2479-2494. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Fisher JG, James PF & Parker JM (2005) . Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 351(8-9), 623-631. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Bingham PA, Parker JM, Searle T, Williams JM & Smith I (2002) . Comptes Rendus Chimie, 5(11), 787-796. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Fu J, Parker JM, Flower PS & Brown RM (2002) . Materials Research Bulletin, 37(11), 1843-1849. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hannon AC & Parker JM (2000) . Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 274(1-3), 102-109. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Harris MJ, Dove MT & Parker JM (2000) . Mineralogical Magazine, 64(3), 435-440. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Parker JM & Richardson GJ (2000) Learning by degrees. Glass Technology, 41(4), 112-115. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Bell KW, Brown RM, Cockerill DJA, Flower PS, Hobson PR, Kennedy BW, Lintern AL, Parker JM & Sproston M (1999) . Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 256-257, 42-47. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Shaukat SF, McKinlay KJ, Flower PS, Hobson PR & Parker JM (1999) . Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 244(2-3), 197-204. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Harris MJ, Bennington SM, Dove MT & Parker JM (1999) . Physica B: Condensed Matter, 263-264, 357-360. RIS download Bibtex download
  • McKinlay KJ & Parker JM (1999) . Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 256-257, 48-52. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hannon AC, M. Parker J & Vessal B (1998) . Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 232-234, 51-58. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Devitsin EG, Kirikova NY, Kozlov VA, Makhov VN, Potashov SY, Dmitruk LN, Terekhin MA, Munro IH, Mythen C, Shaw DA , Bell KW et al (1998) . Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 405(2-3), 418-422. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hobson PR, Imrie DC, Price T, Sheikh S, Bell KW, Brown RM, Cockerill DJA, Flower PS, Grayer GH, Kennedy BW , Lintern AL et al (1997) . Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 213-214, 147-151. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hannon AC, Parker JM & Vessal B (1996) . Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 196, 187-192. RIS download Bibtex download
  • PARKER JM & MOGHADDAM H (1994) . International Journal of Electronics, 76(5), 849-856. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Rogers DC, Manning RJ, Ainslie BJ, Cotter D, Yates MJ, Parker JM & Morgan S (1994) . IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 6(8), 1017-1019. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stanley AT, Harris EA, Searle TM & Parker JM (1993) . Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 161, 235-240. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hannon AC, Vessal B & Parker JM (1992) . Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 150(1-3), 97-102. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Clare AG & Parker JM (1989) . Infrared Fiber Optics. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Clare AG, Parker JM, Furniss D, Harris EA & Searle TM (1989) . Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 1(44), 8753-8758. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Yan F & Parker JM (1989) . Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 112(1-3), 277-281. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Clare AG & Parker JM (1989) Effect of refractive index modifiers on the thermal expansion coefficient of fluoride glasses. Physics and Chemistry of Glasses, 30(6), 205-210. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Parker JM (1989) . Journal of Computer-Aided Molecular Design, 3(4), 327-334. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Jha A & Parker JM (1989) Viscosity models for fluorozirconate and fluoroaluminate glasses. Physics and Chemistry of Glasses, 30(6), 220-228. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hulme J, Jha A, Parker JM & Whitehouse AW (1989) Formation of far infrared transmitting AgI-CsI glasses. Physics and Chemistry of Glasses, 30(6), 254-259. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Yan F, Parker JM & Ainslie BJ (1988) . Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 21(10S), S82-S84. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Fuyu Y & Parker JM (1988) . Materials Letters, 6(7), 233-237. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Parker JM, Seddon AB & Clare AG (1987) CRYSTALLISATION OF ZrF//4-BaF//2-NaF-AlF//3-LaF//3 GLASSES.. Physics and Chemistry of Glasses, 28(1), 4-10. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Parker JM, Ainsworth GN, Seddon AB & Clare A (1986) CRYSTALLISATION OF ZrF//4-BaF//2-NaF GLASSES.. Physics and Chemistry of Glasses, 27(6), 219-227. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Parker JM & West GF (1986) Model study of SiF4 volatilisation from an oxide glass melt.. Kinetics and Mass Transport in Silicate and Oxide Systems, 297-306. RIS download Bibtex download
  • France PW, Carter SF, Williams JR, Beales KJ & Parker JM (1984) . Electronics Letters, 20(14), 607-607. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Parker JM, Wright PV & Lee CC (1981) . Polymer, 22(10), 1305-1307. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Moore AG, Maghrabi C & Parker JM (1978) . Journal of Materials Science, 13(5), 1127-1130. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Fenton DE, Parker JM & Wright PV (1973) . Polymer, 14(11), 589-589. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Parker JM () . Review of Progress in Coloration and Related Topics, 34(1), 26-38. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Dove MT, Harris MJ, Hannon AC, Parker JM, Swainson IP & Gambhir M () . Physical Review Letters, 78(6), 1070-1073. RIS download Bibtex download

Chapters

  • Parker JM (2021) (pp. 1219-1229). Wiley RIS download Bibtex download
  • Parker JM & Martlew D (2021) (pp. 1341-1359). Wiley RIS download Bibtex download
  • Parker JM (2005) , Encyclopedia of Condensed Matter Physics (pp. 273-280). Elsevier RIS download Bibtex download
  • Parker JM (1987) , Halide Glasses for Infrared Fiberoptics (pp. 119-137). Springer Netherlands RIS download Bibtex download

Conference proceedings papers

  • Parker JM (2016) Glass melting SGT glass training day lucideon, stoke-on-trent. Glass Technology: European Journal of Glass Science and Technology Part A, Vol. 2016-June (pp 1-29) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Parker J (2016) Burning issues. Glass Technology: European Journal of Glass Science and Technology Part A, Vol. 2016-June (pp 1-43) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Noble BD, Parker JM, James PF, Hand RJ, Smith A & Booth J (2004) Opacification of ZnO-B2O3-ZrO2 glasses. Glass Technology, Vol. 45(2) (pp 101-104) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Fu J, Parker JM, Brown RM & Flower PS (2003) . Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, Vol. 326-327 (pp 335-338) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brown RM, Flower PS, Fu J & Parker JM (2002) . Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 486(1-2) (pp 303-308) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Bingham PA, Parker JM, Searle T, Williams JM & Fyles K (1999) . Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, Vol. 253(1-3) (pp 203-209) RIS download Bibtex download
Professional activities and memberships
  • Society of Glass Technology
  • International Commission on Glass
  • Honorary Liveryman of the Glasssellers Company
  • Contemporary Glass Society