Fibre and Polymer Engineering - Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering, Master of Science (Technology)

Polymers are to be found in a great variety of everyday and high performance applications ranging from medical to aerospace. Fibres and fibre-based materials, including wood, paper and composites are also extremely widely used, in areas as diverse as fashion textiles and construction products. Both fibres and polymers as well as the materials manufactured from them can be derived from renewable as well as non-renewable resources. Current research is, for example, leading to new developments in plastics and resins derived from plants, whilst stiff and strong fibres are being ‘regenerated’ from cellulose derived from wood. These bio-based polymers and fibers will become increasingly important in a sustainable future. In addition to the advances in bio-based materials, the use of fossil-based polymeric materials and fibres continues to evolve quickly in the face of the challenges of resource efficiency and sustainable development.

This rapidly evolving area of science and technology requires professionals who can work at the interface between different disciplines to meet future global challenges. The Fibre and Polymer Engineering major is built on a solid fundamental understanding of polymers, their synthesis, structure, processing and properties, as well as the structure and properties of fibres and the materials and products manufactured from them. In line with the strategic focus areas of the School of Chemical Engineering, considerable emphasis is placed on fibres and polymers derived from bio-based feedstock. Students taking this major will concentrate, through course work, tailored projects and their final thesis, on one of three areas of specialization. These are i) wood-based materials and their applications, ii) web-structures and converted fibre products and iii) polymer science and technology.

Graduates of the programme will have achieved the key scientific and professional working methods of their area of specialisation and will be able to continuously deepen their knowledge by acquiring, evaluating and processing scientific, technical and professional information. They will gain the knowledge and skills to understand the challenges of the field from the point of view of users and technical and social systems, as well as from that of the environment and be able to use this knowledge in developing new solutions, also as members of multidisciplinary teams.

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