Congratulations to our faculty members who have recently received Discovery Grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
Pushing Performance Limits of Redox Flow Batteries for Clean Energy Storage and Conversion
Currently an MASc student working in the field of carbon fiber reinforced composites, Maggie Chong completed her BASc in Materials Engineering in 2023. She is the recipient of 2024 Canada Graduate Scholarship Master’s Program Award. During her undergraduate degree, she has also received the following awards: NSERC USRA, Frank Forward Memorial Award, and Christina Lim Huckvale Memorial Award.
1. What does your current research focus on?
My research focuses on carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites, widely used in aerospace and automotive sectors for their weight-saving benefits and improved fuel economy. One critical and high-performance component in these composites is called the prepreg tape. During the manufacturing process of these composites, it is common to have the tapes trimmed due to microstructural variations. Traditionally, the trimmed material, called the trim edge tape (TET) has been disposed of or incinerated, causing environmental hazards and concerns.
One solution is to valorize and upcycle these by-products from the manufacturing process. In collaboration with our industrial partner, Teijin Limited, my goal is to develop a comprehensive approach that enables the prediction of materials properties for these upcycled tapes.
2. What impact do you aim to make through your current work?
The morphology of the tapes can be variable and complex, translating into large uncertainties within the mechanical response, and this phenomenon is poorly understood.
Understanding the relationship between the physical structure and material properties of compression-moulded TET composites is essential to ensure consistent production quality and is a fundamental requirement for widespread industrial adoption. The proposed work could make a positive impact on the composites manufacturing industry by addressing the environmental and economic challenges posed by the disposal of prepreg waste material.
Maggie working in the laboratory and examining TET composite samples
3. What inspired you to choose Materials Engineering?
I chose materials engineering because of my experience in high school when I had the opportunity to fly gliders, which are engineless aircraft. In my case, they had canvas-covered fuselages. On rainy days, while sitting in the hangar, I wondered why airplanes would be made from fabric instead of sheet metal, and my interest took off from there. I attended several Girls in Engineering workshops at UBC from grades 10 to 12. Learning about the many research and hands-on opportunities for undergrads further led me toward materials engineering.
“On rainy days, while sitting in the hangar, I started to wonder why airplanes would be made from fabric instead of sheet metal, and my interest took off from there.”
4. What skills from your undergraduate studies have been most valuable in your current work?
I think the most important skill I obtained from my undergraduate studies is learning how to tackle new scientific projects by asking the right questions. Several courses in the materials engineering program, such as MTRL 280 (Materials in Design) and MTRL 361 (Modelling of Materials Processes), feature interactive projects that help students develop the ability to deconstruct and analyse technical challenges.
5. How did you navigate the transition from undergraduate to graduate study?
The transition from undergraduate to graduate studies can be steep. I found the sudden intellectual freedom to explore large engineering questions on my own a bit daunting. However, my research group has a strong collaborative and can-do spirit. We exchange ideas and solutions daily, creating a great culture for conducting research.
“It is important to be disciplined and critical of your work, but having a laugh and some fun along the way is equally important.”
6. As a recent alumn of the MTRL Undergraduate Program at UBC, what advice would you offer current students?
“The advice I would offer is to find your niche within the vast realm of materials engineering”
I have always been interested in archaeology and picked up fencing as a sport. One of my professors mentioned they saw booths at the TMS Bladesmithing Competition at a conference they had attended, which seemed like the perfect intersection of my professional and personal interests. Along with several students, I helped to create UBC Volcan in 2020 with support from the Materials Engineering Department. This team allowed students to hand-forge artisanal blades while developing employable skills in metallurgical characterization, mechanical testing, and technical writing. Taking on student leadership positions within a design team allowed me to find a strong community of undergraduate students passionate about materials engineering. I would advise students to participate in as many activities as you can within the department while prioritizing studies. There are many options including student council, design teams, and undergraduate research!
Congratulations Meet Upadhyay for winning the 2023/24 Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Award!
We are proud to share that Meet, a Graduate Teaching Assistant in our Department of Materials Engineering, has been honored with this Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Award. Thank you Meet for your dedication and contribution in teaching!
UBC Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Awards annually recognizes nineteen exceptional Graduate Teaching Assistants for their teaching excellence within the institution.
Last week, we celebrated the Class of 2024 outstanding achievements, hard work, commitment, and passion. We look forward to seeing all that they will do in the future as they become the future leaders in the world.
Congratulations again to the UBC Materials Engineering Class of 2024! We are incredibly proud of our newest alumni and cannot wait for their valuable contributions to the field of materials engineering and beyond.
Congratulations to our faculty member – Prof. Edouard Asselin for receiving the 2024 Metal Chemistry Award at the recent Canadian Materials Science Conference in Edmonton, Alberta. Dr. Asselin’s research group focuses on aqueous metal extraction and electrometallurgy, addressing longstanding challenges in corrosion and extractive metallurgy.
The Metal Chemistry Award recognizes outstanding contributions in the field of metallurgical chemistry, including hydrometallurgy and corrosion.
From left to right: Alan Chow, Jason Sugiharto, Geoffrey Lam, Jenny Chen, Susan Xu, Eleanor Walton-Knight
Materials Engineering Students Team presenting their project during Design and Innovation Day 2024
Design and Innovation Day 2024
Materials Engineering Section during Design and Innovation Day 2024
Design and Innovation Day is an annual event showcasing the results of engineering students as a result of a year-long dedication and commitment to their undergraduate engineering capstone projects. One of the Materials Engineering students team unveiled a solution for battery recycling in their project entitled “Recycling of lithium-ion batteries (LIBS)”.
In partnership with Hatch, the team developed a hydrometallurgical process to recover essential metals like nickel, lithium, manganese, and cobalt from used batteries. Their innovative approach not only allows economic viability but also carries the potential for significant environmental benefits. This project marks a significant step towards a cleaner, greener future in energy production.
Congratulations to the students on their achievement! Read the full article on the UBC Engineering Website
Congratulations to two of our faculty members for receiving the 2024/25 Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund (TLEF)! The TLEF supports UBC’s strategic plan by advancing transformative learning at the university. This year, $2.2 million of TLEF will be supporting 62 new and returning TLEF projects across campus.
Integration of Simulation Software Teaching Modules into Materials and Manufacturing Engineering Curricula to Enhance Practical Learning Dr. Sergey Kravchenko
Development of a New Case Study Incorporating Themes of Indigenous Engagement and Consultation in a Core First Year Engineering Course Dr. Jon Nakane
From left to right: Rachel Miner (Eng Physics), Douglas McKinnon, Kerrie Ye, Connor Gingera (MTRL Eng), Haoyi Yue (Mech Eng), Simon McMillan (Arts).
The 2024 UBC Volcan Team made their mark at the annual Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS) Meeting & Exhibition in Orlando, Florida. This year, six student members had the opportunity to participate in the conference, accompanying their debut entry into the TMS Bladesmithing competition. TMS Bladesmithing is a biennial competition that combines the historical art of blacksmithing with modern design and analysis techniques employed across various engineering faculties, focusing on content from materials engineering.
UBC Volcan’s entry, led by Douglas McKinnon (Materials Engineering), designed their entry based on a historical copper dagger artifact native to the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations. The team successfully created a damascus steel by forge welding plates of 1095 and 15N20 steel to create an optimal balance between hardness and toughness. The blade was complemented by a diamond willow wood handle, Dall sheep’s horn pommel, and a handcrafted tanned moosehide sheath adorned with family beadwork.
UBC Volcan Team’s final blade design, inspired based on an artifact native to the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations.
Their dedicated efforts over several months handcrafting the perfect blade have earned them a prestigious award for Historical Accuracy. This achievement marks the Volcan Team’s debut participation in the event, underscoring the significance of their success.
To learn more about UBC Volcan, please visit the team’s website.
The Materials Engineering faculty members have secured over $8 million in research funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Innovation Fund and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Alliance 2022-23.
An interdisciplinary project, entitled “Materials for Net-Zero: Enabling the Clean Energy Transition”, co-led by Dr. Ben Britton and Dr. Amanda Clifford has been granted $7.4 million. This project is dedicated to pioneering new materials crucial for supporting and advancing the clean energy transition, by fostering the development of a hydrogen economy, transforming carbon dioxide into valuable commodities, and enhancing batteries development.
Additionally, four projects from the Materials Engineering department have been awarded NSERC Alliance Grants:
Graphene-enhanced natural fiber reinforced composites for protective footwear and other high-performance applications Dr. Yasmine Abdin
Thermal modeling of material deposition in melt extrusion 3D printing of fiber reinforced polymer composites Dr. Sergii Kravchenko
Engineered 3D Microstructures for Automotive Aluminum Extrusions Dr. Warren Poole
The Materials Engineering Department and the Materials Student Chapter jointly organized an alumni mixer night at the UBC Engineering Student Center last evening. This collaborative effort provided a great opportunity for alumni, faculty, and current students to come together, fostering a rich tapestry of connections and collaborations within our dynamic materials engineering community. From reminiscing conversations to fruitful networking, the atmosphere was brimming with energy and excitement – it reflected the vibrant spirit of our community.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all who attended, for their enthusiastic engagement. As we look ahead, we are committed to developing and strengthening these connections through continued events and engagement. Stay tuned for updates on future gatherings and opportunities to further enrich our network of alumni and students, as we collectively strive towards excellence and innovation in the field of materials engineering.
