Polymer Engineering

MSc Full-time

Suitable for International Students?

Yes

Course Introduction

The ability to engineer and process polymeric materials with advanced properties is a challenging task which lies at the heart of today's emerging technologies. Consumer products have become more sophisticated placing increasing demands on the functionality of polymers; this can be seen in the exploitation of polymers in electronics, nanotechnology, sustainable energy and medicine.

Increased sophistication requires intelligent transformation and structuring of the polymer morphology. Engineering polymers for new applications requires not only knowledge of their physical/mechanical properties but an understanding of process influence on microstructure and morphology.  A polymer engineer needs to design, optimise and control processing so as to tailor and impart desirable structure in the polymeric or composite material.

The course thus develops knowledge and understanding of polymer engineering for students to be able to successfully utilise the vast array of polymers and polymer composites available to today’s engineers. Students will learn how to evaluate and characterise the properties of polymeric materials and to model and design polymer processing operations such as extrusion, injection moulding and micromoulding. These skills, together with the practical experience gained and mathematical tools developed in the course will enable students to apply advanced polymer engineering methodology to new and challenging applications.

Course Syllabus

2011/12: (C) = Core, (O) = Option

Semester 1 (50 Credits - 2 x (C) Modules and 20 credits from the (O) modules listed):

• Polymer Science and Technology (10 Credits) (C)
• Polymer Engineering (20 Credits) (C)
• Biotribiology (10 Credits) (O)
• Biomaterials (10 Credits) (O)
• Computer Applications of Numerical Methods (10 Credits) (O)
• Design Optimisation (10 Credits) (O)
• Manufacturing Planning & Control (10 Credits) (O)

Semester 2 (50 Credits - 2 x (C) Modules and 20 credits from the (O) modules listed):

• Polymer Characterisation (20 Credits) (C)
• Polymer Processing (10 Credits) (C)
• Advanced Solid Mechanics (10 Credits) (O)
• Finite Element Methods (10 Credits) (O)
• Risk Management (10 Credits) (O)

Semesters 1 and 2, and end of Semester 2 onwards (80 Credits - 1 x (C) Module):

• MSc Project (80 Credits) (C)