ww w .usm. m y

w lead e

UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA

Second out of 20 public universities in Malaysia

Established in 1969, the second oldest university in

Malaysia

The first and only APEX university in Malaysia

One of the five research universities in Malaysia

One of the leading universities in the country

27 Academic Schools (1 Graduate School of Business)

18 Centres of Excellence (CoE) and 3 Higher Institution

Centres of Excellence (HiCoE)

About 2000 academic staff

Student population of about 30,000

Offers undergraduate & postgraduate programme (by

research, coursework & mixed mode)

Campuses:

• Main Campus – Penang (253.98 hectares)

• Engineering Campus (72.84 hectares)

• Health Campus (87.62 hectares)

• Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (141.7

hectares)

• Offshore program in Belgaum, Bangalore, India

• Kuala Lumpur City Venture

ww w .usm. m y

w lead e

Engineering Campus – eng@USM

Established in March 2001. Area of campus 72.84 hectares (320 acres)

ww w .usm. m y

w lead e

Engineering Campus Map

50 km from the Main Campus

w e lead

ww w .usm. m y

w lead e

Chronology of Engineering Campus

• The subject of electronic technology, polymer, material and mineral resources offered at the School of Applied Sciences at Main Campus

1972

•Engineering Science and Technology Program offered at School of Engineering & Technology Industry at Main Campus

1984 •Engineering program was first offered in Perak Campus, Ipoh, Perak

1986

•Ipoh Perak Branch Campus moved to the Campus of Sri Iskandar, Tronoh, Perak

1990 •Perak Branch Campus moved to Engineering Campus Transkrian, Nibong Tebal, Penang

2001

2007 2008 2014

MRU APEX F1 APEX F2

2025

World Class

Research U 2015

We lead

Students & Staff Statistics (2017)

Professors

Associates Professors

Senior Lecturers

Lecturers

Post Doctoral/Visitor

Professor

Language Teachers

Non-Academics

42

68

115

11

19

11

590

Total 856

Undergraduates

Graduates Students

2,158

932

Total 3,090

Engineering Campus

No of Alumni: 16,638 B.Eng (Hons): 13,535 (from 1988-2016) MSc: 2,341 (from 2005-2016) PhD: 762 (from 2005-2016)

ww w .usm. m y

w lead e

Enginering Campus

School of Electrical & Electronic

Engineering School of

Aerospace Engineering

School of Mechanical Engineering

School of Materials &

Mineral Resources

Engineering

School of Chemical

Engineering Supportive Department

CEDEC

SERC

REDAC

School of Civil

Engineering

USM - MISSION & VISION

Vision

• Transforming higher education for a

sustainable tomorrow

Mission

• USM is a pioneering, trans-disciplinary

research intensive university that

empowers future talent and enables the

bottom billions to transform their socio-

economic well-being

We lead

Professor Dr.

Zuhailawati Hussain Dean

Professor Ir. Dr. Mariatti Jaafar (Deputy Dean-

Academic, Student Affairs & Alumni)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Khairunisak Abdul Razak (Deputy Dean-

Research, Graduate Studies & Networking)

Main Administrative Staff

Assoc. Prof. Dr.

Nurulakmal Mohd

Sharif (Programme Chairman -

Materials Eng. )

Dr. Mohd Hazizan

Mohd Hashim

(Programme Chairman -

Mineral Resources Eng. )

Prof. Dr. Zulkifli

Ahmad (Programme Chairman-

Polymer Eng. )

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Azura

A.Rashid

(Programme Chairman -

OBE & Business Unit )

We lead

Programme offered at undergraduate level

Materials Engineering

Mineral Resources Engineering

Polymer Engineering

Enrolment : 500 students/4 years

program

POLYMER ENGINEERING STAFF

ACADEMIC STAFF

Professor : 5

Associate Professor : 5

Lecturer : 5

Vocational Training Officer : 1

Total Number of Academic Staff : 16

TECHNICAL STAFF

Number of Technical Staff : 5

First Year Unit

Total Lecture Lab

Semester I

EUM

EMM

EBB

EBS

EBP

111/4

101/3

113/3

110/2

103/3

Engineering Mathematics

Engineering Mechanics

Engineering Materials

Engineering Drawing

Polymer Organic Chemistry

4

3

3

2

3

--------

15

4

3

3

0

3

--------

13

0

0

0

2

0

--------

2

SEMESTER BREAK

Semester II

EBB

EAS

EUM

EML

EEU

160/3

152/3

112/4

102/2

104/3

Physical .Chemistry of Engineering

Materials

Strength of Materials

Numerical & Statistical

Engineering Methods

Engineering Practice

Electrical Technology

3

3

4

2

3

--------

15

3

3

4

2

3

--------

15

0

0

0

0

0

--------

0

SESSION BREAK (11 weeks)

Curriculum of B. Eng (Hon) in Polymer Engineering, USM

Second Year Unit

Total Lecture Lab

Semester l

EUP

EBB

EBP

EBP

EBB

222/3

220/3

201E/3

202/3

250/2

Engineers in Society

Polymeric Materials

Polymer Synthesis

Polymer Structure

Computer Methods in Engineers

3

3

3

3

2

--------

14

3

3

3

3

2

--------

14

0

0

0

0

0

--------

0

SEMESTER BREAK

Semester ll

EBB

EBP

EBP

EBP

EBP

215/3

204/3

212/3

216/2

207/2

Semiconductor Materials

Elastomeric Materials

Latex Processing

Polymer Engineering Laboratory

Transport Phenomena in Polymers

3

3

3

2

2

--------

13

3

3

3

0

2

--------

11

0

0

0

2

0

--------

2

SESSION BREAK (11 weeks)

Curriculum

Third Year Unit

Total Lecture Lab

Semester I

EBP

EBP

EBP

EBP

EBP

308/3

310/3

303/3

306E/3

316/2

Rubber : Processing & Products

Plastic Processing

Plastic Materials

Properties and Testing of Polymers

Latex laboratory

3

3

3

3

2

--------

14

3

3

3

3

0

--------

12

0

0

0

0

2

--------

2

Electives

SEMESTER BREAK

Semester II

EBP

EBP

EBP

EBP

EBP

317/3

307E/2

341/3

324/3

320/2

Advanced Polymer Composites

Polymer Rheology

Quality Control

Polymer Degradation & The Environment

Rubber Laboratory

3

2

3

3

2

--------

13

3

2

3

3

0

--------

11

0

0

0

0

2

--------

2

Electives

EBP

314/3 Resin Manufacturing 3 3 0

SESSION BREAK (11 weeks) EBP350/5- Industrial Training

Curriculum

Final Year Unit

Total Lecture Lab

Semester l

EBP

EBP

EBP

EBP

400/3

420E/2

415/3

418/2

Product Design & Failure Analysis

Rubber Engineering

Fiber Processing

Plastic Laboratory

3

2

3

2

--------

10

3

2

3

0

--------

8

0

0

0

2

-----

2

Elective

EBB 323/3 Fabrication Technology of

Semiconductor

3 3 0

SEMESTER BREAK

Semester ll

EBP

EBP

401/6

402/3

Final Year Academic Project

Mould & Die Design

6

3

--------

9

0

3

--------

3

6

0

--------

6

Elect.

EBP

412/3 Specialty Polymers 3 3 0

Curriculum

ACADEMIC STAFF RELATED TO

RUBBER RESEARCH

Professor Dr. Hanafi Ismail

B.Sc (UKM), Ph.D. (Lougborough) U.K.

e-mail: ihanafi@usm.my

Tel no.: 04-599 6113

Research interests:

1. Rubber reinforcement; rubber-rubber and rubber-Plastic blend; recycling of

waste rubber and plastic products

2. Short fiber, mineral fillers and nanofillers-reinforced rubber, plastic and TPE

composites

Link for Google Scholar:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=DfoESioAAAAJ&hl=en

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zulkifli Mohamad Ariff

B. Tech. (USM), M.Sc. (UMIST), U.K. Ph.D. (USM)

e-mail: zulariff@eng.usm.my

Tel no.: 04-599 6173 (Office)

Research Interests:

1.Rheological properties measurement of polymer melts

2.Production and characterization of various polymeric

foams

3.Real-time monitoring of polymer processes

ACADEMIC STAFF

Link for Google Scholar & Blog:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=JRp0s4oAAAAJ&hl=en

http://www.foamnflow.com

Rubber Research Publications

International

• Z. M. Ariff, Z. Zakaria, L. H. Tay, S. Y. Lee, “Effect of Foaming Temperature and Rubber Grades on Properties of Natural Rubber Foams”, Journal of Applied Polymer Science Vol. 107(4), 2531 – 2538, (2008)

• N.N. Najib, Z.M. Ariff, A.A. Bakar, C.S. Sipaut, “Correlation between the acoustic and dynamic mechanical properties of natural rubber foam: Effect of foaming temperature”, Materials and Design, Vol. 32, 505–511, (2011)

• L.O. Salmazo, A. Lopez-Gil, Z.M. Ariff, A.E. Job, M.A. Rodriguez-Perez, “Influence of the irradiation dose in the cellular structure of natural rubber foams cross-linked by electron beam irradiation”, Industrial Crops and Products, 89, 339–349, (2016)

National

• Z.M. Ariff, N. Salleh, C.S. Sipaut, “Effect of Rubber Type on Properties of Rubber Foams”, Malaysian Journal of Microscopy, Vol. 2, 134-139, (2005)

• Zunaida Zakaria, Zulkifli Mohamad Ariff, Tay Lee Hwa, Coswald Stephen Sipaut, “Effect of Foaming Temperature on Morphology and Compressive Properties of Ethylene propylene diena monomer rubber (EPDM) Foam”, Malaysian Polymer Journal (MPJ), Vol 2, No. 2, p 22-30, (2007)

• N.N. Najib, Z.M. Ariff, N.A.A. Manan, A.A. Bakar and C.S. Sipaut, "Effect of Blowing Agent Concentration on Cell Morphology and Impact Properties of Natural Rubber Foam", Journal of Physical Science, 20(1), 13-25, (2009)

Rubber Foams (Journals)

Rubber Research Publications

• C.S. Sipaut, Z.M Ariff, G.L.A. Sims, S. Nadia and M.N. Mohamad Ibrahim, “Techniques and Parameters Investigations on Crosslinked Rubber Foam Formations”, Proc. 2nd International Conference on Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering ,Hotel Promenade, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. pg. 966 – 971, 8 – 10 December 2005.

• Z.M. Ariff, L.C. Low, A.R. Nor Azura and M.R. Azura Ellyani, “The Effect of Different SMR-L/ENR-25 Ratio on The Production OF SMR-L/ENR-25 Foam”, Proc. National Symposium on Polymeric Materials 2007 (NSPM 2007), Session 3 Paper 2, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 27-28 November 2007

• Z.M. Ariff, N.A.A. Rahim and L. L. Ching, “Effect of Compound Formulation on the Production and Properties of Epoxidised Natural Rubber (ENR-25) Foams”, Proceeding CD of 24th Annual Meeting of The Polymer Processing Society (PPS-24), Paper Reference No.: S15-618, (2008), Salerno, Italy, 15-19 June 2008.

• N. N. Najib, Z. M. Ariff, N. A. Manan, A. A. Bakar, C. S. Sipaut, “Structural and Energy Absorption of Natural Rubber Foam: Influence of Foaming Temperature”. Proceeding CD of International Rubber Conference 2008 (IRC 2008), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 20-22 October 2008.

• N. N. Najib , Z. M. Ariff, A. A. Bakar and C. S. Sipaut, “Optimzing Cell Structure of Epoxidized Rubber Foams by Varying Binary Accelarator System”, Proceeding of 3rd International Conference for Young Chemists 2010, 23-25 June 2010, Penang, Malaysia

• N. N. Najib , Z. M. Ariff, A. A. Bakar and C. S. Sipaut, “Mechanical Response and Sound Absorption of Natural Rubber, Epoxidized Natural Rubber and Natural Rubber/Epoxidized Natural Rubber Foams”, Proceeding of 10th National Symposium on Polymeric Materials, 8-10 November 2010, Langkawi, Malaysia

Rubber Foams (Conference)

Rubber Research Publications

• Zulkifli Mohamad Ariff and Tan Yizong, “Microwave Foaming of Natural Rubber: Exploiting Moisture As Blowing Agent”, Paper 09, 13th International Conference on Foam Materials & Technology, FOAMS 2015, 10-11 September, 2015, Kyoto, Japan.

• M. S. F. Samsudin, Z. M. Ariff, and A. Ariffin, “Deformation behavior of open-cell dry natural rubber foam: Effect of different concentration of blowing agent and compression strain rate”, AIP Conference Proceedings, vol. 1835, p. 020007 (2017)

Rubber Foams (Conference)

Rubber Curing & Flow (Journals & Conference)

• T.H. Khang and Z.M. Ariff, “Vulcanization kinetics study of natural rubber compounds having different formulation variables”, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 109, 1545-1553, (2012)

• Z. M. Ariff and T. H. Khang, “Evaluation of Cadmould Software to Simulate the Filling Phase of a Natural Rubber Compound in Injection Moulding Process”, Advanced Materials Research Vol. 746, 571-574 (2013)

• T. H. Khang and Z. M. Ariff. "Mold Filling Simulation Dependence on Material Data Input for Injection Molding Process of Natural Rubber Compound." International Polymer Processing, Vol. 29(3) 325-331. (2014)

• T.H. Khang and Z.M. Ariff, “Simulation and Experimental Validation of Curing Behaviour for Injection Moulded Natural Rubber Compound”, Proc. of the 2nd Asia Pacific Rubber Conference (APRC 2015), 15-16 October 2015, Phuket, Thailand.

Dr. Nadras Othman

Dipl. in Rubber and Plastic Technology, (UiTM)

Dipl. in Natural Rubber Processing, (RRIM)

B. Eng (Honest) in Polymer Engineering (London) U.K.

Ph.D. (USM)

e-mail: srnadras@eng.usm.my

Tel no.: +60135813137 (HP), +6045996177 (OFF)

Research Interests:

1. Elastomer clay composite

2. Elastomer with nano filler and natural fibre

3. Retreading technology: Tire tread liner and cushion gum

ACADEMIC STAFF

Link for Google Scholar:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=sAo28QIAAAAJ&hl=en

Rubber Research Publications

SELECTED INTERNATIONAL ISI JOURNAL

1. Zaharri, N. D., Othman, N., Mohd Ishak, Z. A. (2013) Effect of Zeolite Modification via Cationic Exchange Method on Mechanical, Thermal, and Morphological Properties of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate/Zeolite Composites, Advances in Materials Science & Engineering; Special issue - Advanced Composites with Natural Reinforcement, 12/2013; 2013(2):1-9. DOI:10.1155/2013/394656, Hindawi Publishing

2. Azahari, N. A, Othman, N., Ismail, H., (2012) Effect of attapulgite clay on biodegradability and tensile properties of polyvinyl alcohol/corn starch blend film, International Journal of Polymeric Materials, DOI: 10.1080/00914037.2011.617330, 61 (14) , pp. 1065-1078, Taylor & Francis.

3. Shuhaimi, N. H. H., Ishak, N.S., Othman, N., Ismail, H., Sasidharan, S., (2014) Effect of different types of vulcanization system on mechanical properties of natural rubber vulcanisates in presence of oil palm leaves based antioxidant, First published on June 4, 2013, Vol. 46, Issue No.: 8, pp 747, doi: 10.1177/0095244313489910, Journal of Elastomers and Plastics, Sage Publisher.

4. Suhawati Ibrahim, Nadras Othman, Zairossani Mohd Nor and Hanafi Ismail, (2017) Preliminary Study on UV Photochemical Degradation of Natural Rubber Latex, Macromolecular Symposia - 4th Federation of Asian Polymer Societies, 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, Vol.371, DOI: 10.1002/masy.2016000308, pg 22-26

1. Nadras Othman, Nur Izzati Ismail, Siti Nadzirah Abdul Muttalib, (2017) Effect of Surface Modification on the Properties of Palygorskite Filled Natural Rubber Nanocomposites, Macromolecular Symposia - 4th Federation of Asian Polymer Societies, 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, Vol.371, DOI: 10.1002/masy.2016000308, pg 35-43.

Rubber Research Publications

SELECTED INTERNATIONAL SCOPUS JOURNAL

1. Shuhaimi, N. H. H., Othman, N., Ismail, H., Sasidharan, S., (2014), Comparative study on natural and synthethic antioxidants on thermo-oxidative aging of natural and synthethic rubber vulcanisates, Advanced Materials Research, Vol. 844(2014), pp.326-329, Trans Tech. Publications, Switzerland, doi: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.844.326

2. Siti Nadzirah Abdul Mutatalib, Nadras Othman (2016) Effect of ball mill parameters on properties of attapulgite filled natural rubber composite, Procedia Chemistry, Vol. 19 (2016) p. 381-387, Elsevier. Doi: 10.1016/j.proche.2016.03.027

3. Mohd Noor N.A., Othman, N., (2016) Effect of filler loading on curing characteristic and tensile properties of palygorskite natural rubber nanocomposites, Procedia Chemistry, Vol. 19 (2016) p. 351-358, Elsevier. Doi: 10.1016/j.proche.2016.03.027

4. Nurus Sakinah Che Mat, Hanafi Ismail, Nadras Othman, (2016) Curing characteristics and tear properties of bentonite filled ethylene propylene diene (EPDM) rubber composites, Procedia Chemistry, Vol. 19 (2016) p. 394-400, Elsevier. Doi: 10.1016/j.proche.2016.03.027

5. K. C. Lee, N. A. Md Yusoff, N Othman, N A Mohamad Aini (2017) Effect of vulcanization temperature on curing characteristic, physical and mechanical properties of natural rubber/palygorskite composites, Accepted, Open Access, IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), IOP Publishing.

Rubber Research Publications

BOOK CHAPTER

1. Zahari, N.D., Othman, N., Mohd Ishak, Z. A., (2013), Surface effects and contact mechanics XI; Computational Methods and experimental, Editors: J.Th.De Hosson & C.A. Brebbia, WIT Press (Southampton, Boston), Effect of silane modification on mechanical and thermal properties of ethylene vinyl acetate/zeolite composites, 289-299 pages, ISBN: 978-1-84564-722-3, Publisher; WIT Press, Southampton, UK.

2. Othman, N., Kahar, A.W., Ismail, H., (2014) Natural Rubber Based Blends & IPN, Chapter 10: Thermoplastics elastomer from high density polyethylene/natural rubber: Effects of different dynamic vulcanisation. Editors: Sabu Thomas, Chin Han Chan, Laly A. Pothen, Jithin Joy and Hanna J, Maria, ISBN:978-1-84973-610-7, eISBN: 978-1-84973-764-7, DOI: 10.1039/9781849737647. Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, UK.

3. Zahari, N.D., Othman, N., (2016) Composites: Advances in Manufacture and Characterisation, Editor; S. Syngellakis, Effect of peroxide cross-linking on viscoelastic behavior and thermal properties of zeolite filled ethylene vinyl acetate composite. 177-186 pages, ISBN: 978-1-78466-167-0, eISBN: 978-1-78466-168-7. Publisher: WIT Press, Southampton, UK.

Rubber Research Publications

4. Suhawati Ibrahim, Nadras Othman, Hanafi Ismail (2016) Natural rubber: Properties, behaviour and applications, Editor: Janet L. Hamilton, Degradation of natural rubber latex, ISBN: 978-1-63485-472-6, Nova Publisher, US.

5. Mohd Nor, N.A., Muttalib, S.N.A., Nadras Othman (2016) Nanoclay reinforced polymer composites: Nanocomposites and Biocomposites, Editors: Mohamad Jawaid, Abou el Kacem Qaiss, Rachid Bouhfid; Synthesis of natural rubber,palygorskite nanocomposites via silylation and cation exchange, 261-290 pages, ISBN: 978- 981-10-1952-4, ISBN: 978- 981-10-1953-1 (eBook), Publisher: Springer, Singapore.

6. Komethi Muniandy, Nadras Othman, Hanafi Ismail, (2017) Green Biocomposites; Manufacturing and Properties, Editors; Mohamad Jawaid, Salit Mohd Sapuan, Othman Y. Alothman, Charactierisation and properties of rattan fibre/natural rubber biocomposites, 311-354 pages, ISBN: 978-3-319-46609-5, ISBN: 978-3-319-46610-1(eBook), Publisher; Springer, Switzerland.

ACADEMIC STAFF

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Azura A. Rashid

B. Tech. (USM), Ph.D., (London) U.K.

(e-mail: azura@eng.usm.my)

Tel no.:

Research Interests:

1. Conductive rubber composites

2. Palm ash/paper sludge filled thermoplastic elastomer composites

3. Effect of ageing on physical properties of natural rubber

4. Diffusion and reaction of oxygen during ageing of natural rubber

Link for Google Scholar:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=cqlxtpwAAAAJ&hl=en

ACADEMIC STAFF

Link for Google Scholar:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=4bU6vZIAAAAJ&hl=en

Applied research

Structure-properties relationship of polymeric materials such as

rubber composites, rubber blends, rubber foams, biodegradable

polymers, etc.

Development and characterization new and existing polymeric

materials and systems

Optimization of polymer processing of compound formulation

polymeric materials

RESEARCH STRENGTH

Applied research (cont.)

Development of new materials such as new thermoplastic

elastomer materials based on natural rubber, bioactive

composite materials, degradable plastics and production of new

compatibilizer or coupling agent with the utilization of the

nation’s diverse natural resources.

Preparation and characterization of nano and natural filler-

rubber composites such as development of cost effective

modified via incorporation of multi-component filler and high

performance lignocellulose/mineral fillers.

New technologies for recycling of various rubber and plastic

waste.

RESEARCH STRENGTH

Basic research

• Rubber science and technology

• Latex technology

• Synthesis of new polymers

• Physical and chemical modification of natural rubber,

interphases and interfaces

• Polymer Rheology

• Modelling and simulation of polymer processes, polymer

structures, polymer reactions, etc.

RESEARCH STRENGTH

FACILITIES

FACILITIES

FACILITIES

FACILITIES

FACILITIES

FACILITIES