Postgraduate Programs

Programs being offered

  • M.Sc Polymer and Process Engineering
  • M.S Polymer Science and Technology
  • Ph.D Polymer Science and Engineering

Research Focus

The primary focus of the research in the Department is on the following areas:

  1. Polymer membranes for reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, fuel cells, pervaporation, and gas separation
  2. Elastomers and polymer blends
  3. Polymer composites
  4. Dye-sensitized solar cells
  5. Polymer processing and recycling

 

A few of the recent research activities at the department include:

  • Development of Rotatory Ultrasonic Machining System (RUSM) for advanced aerospace composites (PSF Funded Project)
  • Development of Nano-filtration membranes for water treatment (HEC Funded Project)
  • Development of Fuel Cell membranes (Pak-Turk Collaboration)
  • Novel Mixed Matrix Membranes for Gas Separation (HEC Funded Project)
  • Elastomer-Thermoplastic blends for various applications related to the automotive industry. (PSF Funded Project)
  • Polymer processing and recycling (PSF Funded Project)

Development of dye-sensitized solar cells (HEC Funded Project)

M.Sc. Polymer and Process Engineering (PPE)

M.Sc. Polymer & Process Engineering program was started in 2007 where the curriculum offers a unique combination of advanced courses related to Polymer and Process Engineering. The department enjoys a strong tradition of research and development work and the students are encouraged to undertake and disseminate the research work in reputed journals and conferences under the guidance of the faculty.

M.S. Polymer Science and Technology (PST) (Equivalent to 18 years of education)

The M.S. Polymer Science and Technology program is an interdisciplinary research-oriented postgraduate program. This program is offered by the Department of Polymer and Process Engineering in collaboration with the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Physics. The program curriculum is a blend of core areas from polymer science, offered by the Department of Chemistry and Department of Physics, and polymer technology, offered by the Department of Polymer and Process Engineering. A unique feature of this program is that the students and faculty from different academic backgrounds (Engineering, Chemistry, and Physics) are working together in collaboration. It is envisaged that this multi-disciplinary approach would result in the emergence of new research clusters, keeping in view the international research in the field and the requirements of the industry.

To be admitted to M.S. Polymer Science and Technology program, the applicant must have completed 16 years of education from a recognized institution. Polymer is a highly interdisciplinary area that includes Polymer Chemistry, Polymer Physics, Polymer Processing, Polymer Engineering, etc. Students with a degree in the following disciplines are eligible to apply for this degree program:

  • Chemistry and Applied Chemistry
  • Physics and Applied Physics
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering Technology
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Materials Science and Engineering
  • Polymer Engineering
  • Polymer Technology

M.Sc./M.S. Degrees with Course Work

The University offers research-based postgraduate degrees based on a research thesis of 6 credit hours. However, those students who do not wish to proceed with research may opt for an M.Sc./M.S. degree with course work, at the start of the first semester. They will have to take coursework of 6 credit hours instead of the research thesis.

Ph.D. Polymer Science and Engineering (PSE)

The Department started its Ph.D. Polymer Science and Engineering degree program in 2020. The doctoral degree program offered by the Department consists of coursework and rigorous research activities. It is expected that the students enrolled in the research-oriented Ph.D. program would produce an original contribution to the chosen research field. The Ph.D. program is based on a total of 90 credit hours including 42 credits of research work. A student enrolled in a Ph.D. degree program based on 16 years of education will have to complete a minimum of 48 credit hours of course along with 42 credit hours of research work. Students having 18 years of M.S./M.Sc./M. Phil. or equivalent qualification at the time of admission may apply to the department for transfer of a maximum of 24 credit hours of course work which will be counted towards his overall requirement of 48 credit hours of course work. On fulfilling the coursework requirements, the student shall sit in a comprehensive/qualifying examination. The admission of the student will be confirmed along with the award of “Candidacy” upon successful completion of the comprehensive examination. The submitted Ph.D. thesis containing the research findings will be evaluated by external evaluators for the award of a degree.

Global Recognition

The postgraduate degrees offered by the Department are highly recognized worldwide and the graduates readily get Ph.D. scholarships/studentships from renowned universities all around the world.

Laboratory/Research Facilities

The academic and research laboratories developed at the Department employ state of the art technology to gain insight into the complex processes and facilitate precise measurements. These laboratories house a wide range of characterization and testing facilities such as Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Brabender® Melt Measuring Mixer, Elemental Analyzer (CHNOS), Universal Testing Machine (UTM), Brookfield® Rheometer, Moving Die Rheometer (MDR), Izod/Charpy Impact Tester, Lab Compression Press, UV Spectrometer, Hardness and Electrical Conductivity Testers, Potentiostat Lab, Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analyzer (DMTA), BET Surface Analyzer and Thermal Gravimetric Analyzer (TGA).

Several locally developed membrane rigs are available to facilitate the research activities in membrane application in desalination, nanofiltration, pervaporation, electrodialysis, and gas separation using real membrane samples. In addition, a fully functional Polymer Simulation laboratory is available for the students housing Autodesk® Mold Flow Simulation software.

The well-resourced process and synthesis laboratories in polymers, membranes, solar cells, elastomers, and polymer composites are the main strength of the department.

Melt processing laboratories such as extrusion, injection molding, blown film, blow molding and compounding are unique research resources for the research in polymer blends, nanocomposites, recycling, and compounding.

Research Output

The research being carried out at the department is published in renowned international journals such as Nature Communication, Journal of Membrane Science, Journal of Polymer Science, Polymers and Polymer Composites, and Carbon to name a few. The students and faculty have published a large number of impact factor research articles and book chapters in the last five years. Moreover, the faculty and students participate in various international conferences as keynote speakers/presenters as well as disseminate their research findings in various poster-presenting activities. The Department organizes the Annual Symposium on Advanced Aerospace Composites in which a large number of experts from academia, industries, and strategic organizations participate as presenters.

Liaison with Industry

At the department, we believe that universities always have been the centers of scholarship and innovation. Today, they have to extend their function and fully integrate research, education, and innovation, and attract other centers of knowledge into cooperation. Research and thus postgraduate studies, have to be more focused on industrial problems. The Department is working relentlessly to establish a meaningful and productive link with prominent polymer-related industries. The broad framework of cooperation is as follows:

  1. Key Thrust Areas
    • Polymer processing and recycling
    • Polymer membranes and their industrial applications
    • Flame retardant composites
    • Rubber compounding
    • Polymer blending and alloying
    • Polymer testing and characterization
    • Processing simulation and troubleshooting
  2. Industrial Contribution
    •  Industrial training and internships
    •  Joint research projects and funding
    •  Scholarships

     3. Modes of Interaction

  •  Direct liaison on specific projects
  •  Collaboration through HEC-Industry Linkage Program

Under the above-mentioned themes, the Department has established very close and congenial relationships with the industries around, including Engro Polymers & Chemicals (EPCL), Pak Petrochemicals (PPIL), Descon Oxychem (DOL), Awan Sports, Fibrecraft Ltd., Lucky Plastics, Packages, Roshan Packages, Popular Pipes, T. M. Rubbers, Minhas Pipes, Service Industries and many others.

The Department has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with some of the leading industries. We provide industry research and testing facilities to these industries whereas the industry provides practical knowledge to our graduates. The Department is currently collaborating with the following industries through MoUs and/or Collaboration Agreements.

  • Packages (Pvt.) Ltd.
  • Engro Polymer & Chemicals (EPCL)
  • Minhas Pipes
  • Chemical Kinetics
  • KRL
  • Water Engineering and Management Systems (WEMS)

The department is working on future collaboration and many more linkages are expected in near future.

Industrial Consultancy and Testing

The Department is engaged with the industry in research and developmental projects in the areas such as Membranes, Advanced Functional Polymers, Polymer Adhesives, Polymer Composites, Rheological Characterization, Polymer Modification, Polymer Blending, Process Simulation, and Design. Testing and characterization of industrial materials and products using ASTM and ISO standards is a valuable industrial linkage mode where the Department generates a handsome revenue for the university.

Postgraduate Faculty and their Research Interests

1. Prof. Dr. Asif Ali Qaiser (Chairman)

Membranes, Polymer Blending and Alloying, Polymer Rheology and Processing

2. Dr. Atif Javaid (Associate Professor)

Multifunctional Polymers Composites

3. Dr. Farhan Saeed (Associate Professor)

Elastomeric Materials, Polymer Processing, and Compounding

4. Dr. Muhammad Sarfraz (Associate Professor)

Gas Separation Membranes

5. Dr. Yasir Qayyum Gill (Associate Professor)

Flexible Packaging, Polymer Recycling, and Processing

6. Dr. Rabia Nazar (Associate Professor)

Nanomaterials, Piezoresistive strain sensors

7. Dr. Umar Mehmood (Assistant Professor)

Dye-synthesized Solar Cells

8. Dr. Muhammad Farooq (Assistant Professor)

Rubber and polymer processing

9. Dr. Muhammad Aamir Shehzad (Assistant Professor)

Membranes for Electrodialysis

10. Dr. Zaman Tahir (Assistant Professor)

Membranes, Nano materials