MECH ENG 764 / Science and technology of protective materials and their applications

3 unit(s)

(Cross-listed as BIOMED 734, CHEM ENG 734 and MATLS 714)

Prerequisite(s): Enrollment in the School of Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering or by special permission of the instructor.

This course presents an overview of the fundamentals and applications of protective materials with an emphasis on personal protective equipment. The course begins with an introduction to the fundamentals of polymers, blends, additives, and characterization followed by various manufacturing processes including both used in the industry and under development. It then considers the different surface and bulk processing together with testing methods to evaluate the quality of protective materials such as nonwovens, composites, and various applications including medical personal protective equipment, protective gears, and smart textiles. The course will also discuss the challenges in the industry and the emerging research trends.