MME9101: Fiber Reinforced Composites and Polymer Processing

The module will provide a deeper understanding of the technology of plastics processing. The material covered will cross cut the engineering disciplines of advanced manufacturing technology and polymer science to broaden the technical and industrial context of polymer processing. Within the content of the module simulation software will be applied to industrial case study examples for critical evaluation. In addition, the application of polymer replication technologies within the emerging field of micro manufacturing will be presented, focusing on the advantage and limitations of size effect and length scale integration. The module will included practical demonstration laboratories and also include industrial visits. 
 
Course objectives 

• Explain the fundamental background sciences to processing of polymeric materials: rheology, heat transfer and solidification processes.  
• Identify and describe main material components responsible for building lightweight composite materials 
• Understand and analyze material mechanical behavior in composite materials and their components 
• Select different materials and design lightweight composites 
• Understand and select different approaches to manufacturing lightweight composites 

 
Learning Outcomes 
After completing the course, the student shall: 

• Motivate the choice of polymeric material for a product to be used in a given application.
• Describe how the product should be processed in order to obtain suitable properties 
• Describe the geometry how the product interacts with the properties of the material. 
• Design products in polymeric materials accounting for the time dependence of the mechanical properties. 
• Demonstrate in an industrial context using the appropriate terminology, the principles of the injection moulding process. 
• Demonstrate a systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of their academic discipline, field of study or area of professional practice.  
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of state-of-the-art developments within injection moulding at both macro and micro scale. 
• Understand how to apply simulation software to optimize the performance of injection moulding for industrial case studies. 
• Through conceptual understanding evaluate critically current research and methodologies and if appropriate propose new hypothesis. 
• Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles. 
• Use creativity to establish innovative solutions. 
• Knowledge of characteristics of particular equipment, processes or products. 
• Understanding of the need for a high level of professional and ethical conduct in engineering