ASSESSMENT OF EXISTING FACILITIES AND FEASIBILITY FOR ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL CENTRE FOR COMPOSITE MATERIALS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Composite materials are both engineered and naturally occurring materials; made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties. The constituents remain physically distinct within the finished structure. The objective of combining the different constituents is to have properties which are not achievable by using the constituents on their own. Composites have variety of applications; the relatively low-tech civil applications include sports goods, car bumpers, door panels, dashboard, ship-building while the example of high-tech applications include centrifuges (for nuclear industry), aerospace components like those being used in Boeing 787 Airbus A380, and space shuttles. Composites are also being used in defense sector such as in manufacturing of ballistic protection equipment (e.g. bullet proof vests, helmets, bunkers and missile shells etc.) Internationally Composites are replacing traditional materials rapidly in many sectors due to which we are losing our market share in even those sectors which were once considered our strong areas (e.g. Sports goods). In addition, growth in composites sector can open many new markets for our manufacturers. This is very difficult to realize, however, given the lack of both human and material resources required for boosting the composites Industry in Pakistan. It is in this backdrop that College of E&ME and National Composites Certification and Evaluation Facility (NCCEF), University of Manchester have under taken a joint venture for capacity building of Pakistani Universities and Industry to boost R&D in composites. The study was funded through British Council DelPHE grant. One of the aims of the project would be to initiate a proposal for an R&D centre in composites that can provide services to both universities and industries in designing, manufacturing, training, testing and certification of composite materials and products. In order to make such a proposal, it is important to carry out a requirement and needs analysis. Thus the purpose of this research study was to carry out a comprehensive needs analysis for such a centre. This was achieved through a country wide survey that was conducted through a combination of tools & techniques including visits, postal and online/web based requests and telephonic interviews. The project discusses the benefits and drawbacks of establishing such a iii centre in Pakistan. It realistically evaluates the type of services that this centre should provide along with the cost analysis for the facility. The research also reflects on the best management model for the proposed centre of Composites. The survey revealed the following facts and figures. The local industry is not aware of latest manufacturing and testing practices being used. This is because of the fact that currently there is no dedicated setup which can guide them towards the latest manufacturing and testing techniques. Locally manufactured raw material (e.g. resin, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, methyl ethyl ketone etc) is of poor quality. There are certain threats, weaknesses such as energy crisis, international competitors, poor quality raw material etc along with strengths and opportunities such as tremendous potential, availability of human resource, good customer links etc for this profitable sector.