The Department of Materials Engineering at the University of Technology awarded a PhD to researcher Dalia Mohamed Jumaa on Sunday 3/11/2024 in the Graduate Studies Hall in Building B for her thesis entitled:

“Multiple optimization of mechanical and biocompatible properties of nanocomposite"

This research uses biopolymer materials to develop skin tissue engineering scaffolds for therapeutic use. These scaffolds aim to address the limits of skin transplantation, facilitate wound healing, and restore damaged skin tissue.

Scaffolds created from Bio-nanocomposite materials that are biodegradable poly (ε-caprolactone), chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol-reinforced with adding Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide- have been prepared via solvent casting, electrospinning technique. Aims of this Study Fabrication wound dressing material as bio-composite has been applied to improve the healing process commonly characterisation biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-toxicity and design biodegradable biomaterials when fabrication of nanofiber tissue scaffolds loaded with antibiotic, and used Taguchi method astatistical approach used to optimize mechanical biolog properties .

The discussion committee consisted of Prof. Dr. Farhad Mohammed Othman Attia as Chairman and the membership of Prof. Dr. Nabaa Sattar Radhi, Assist. Prof. Dr. Laith Qais Abbas, Assistant Professor Dr. Mohammed Osama Abbas, Assist. Prof. Dr. Naseer Abdul Hussein Nasser. The thesis was supervised by Prof. Dr. Abbas Khamas Hussein, Assist. Prof. Dr. Jamal Jalal Daoud. The thesis was scientifically evaluated by Prof. Dr. Firas Farhan Sayed Salman, Assist. Prof. Dr. Hussein Ibrahim Khalaf, and linguistically by Assist. Prof. Dr. Laith Waddah Ismail.

The Department of Materials Engineering at the University of Technology awarded a PhD to researcher Lamis Salam Faeq on Thursday, 31/10/2024, in the Graduate Studies Hall in Building B for her thesis entitled:

“Development of Microwave Dielectric Materials with Low Loss Factor"

Abstract

The study aimed to obtain lightweight, high-performance materials for use in wireless communication and high-frequency applications. A composite material composed of ceramic reinforced with polymer was prepared to achieve a balance between the excellent dielectric properties of ceramics and the mechanical flexibility of polymers. Three types of crystalline structures (scheelite, wolframite, and perovskite) were added at 5% and 10% concentrations to three types of polymers: epoxy, polyurethane, and silicone rubber.The ceramic compounds were prepared using solid-state reactions and include Zn1-xCuxWO4 (x=0, 0.03), Ba1-xMgxWO4 (x=0, 0.4), Ba2MgWO6, Ba2ZnWO6, Bi2Mo0.5W0.5O6, (1-x)CaWO4-xNa2WO4 (x=0, 0.2, 0.4), and (Na0.5Bi0.5)(Mo0.5W0.5)O4 (x=0.5). Characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to study the crystal structure, phase formation, and surface of the oxidized materials. The dielectric properties of the composites were determined using a vector network analyzer (VNA) within the frequency range of 4-8 GHz. A mathematical model known as the Nicholson-Ross-Weir (NRW) model was used to convert the measured scattering parameters to dielectric constant and loss tangent. The results showed that composites containing 10% ceramics provided higher performance compared to 5%, especially in the frequency range of 7-7.98 GHz. These composites exhibit enhanced dielectric properties, frequency stability, and minimal signal loss, making them suitable for high-frequency applications.

The discussion committee consisted of Prof. Dr. Alaa Abdel Hassan Attia as Chairman and the membership of Prof. Dr. Ghazi Kamal Saeed, Prof. Dr. Hussein Alaa Jaber, Asst. Prof. Dr. Mayada Shanan Abdul, Asst. Prof. Dr. Alaa Abdul Mohammed. The thesis was supervised by Prof. Dr. Fadel Abbas Hashem, Prof. Dr. Saad Badri Hassoun. The thesis was scientifically evaluated by Prof. Dr. Shihab Ahmed Zidane, Asst. Prof. Dr. Hanaa Shukr Mahmoud, and linguistically by Asst. Prof. Dr. Gamal Jalal Daoud.

As part of the extracurricular activities of the General Materials Engineering Branch and the Ceramics Engineering Branch, and based on the principle of enhancing the applied and practical side of the students of the two branches, the Materials Engineering Department, General Materials Engineering Branch, Headed by the Head of the General Materials Engineering Branch, Assist. Prof. Dr. Jamal Jalal Daoud, and the Head of the Ceramics Branch, Assist. Prof. Dr. Heba Anwar Abdullah and the attendance of members of the teaching staff and students of the two branches on a scientific field trip to the Building Research Department of the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Public Municipalities on Wednesday, 30/10/ 2024, where they were received by the Director General of the Department, Senior Chief Engineer Hussein Faraj Abdul Sahib, the respected Head of the Roads Department, Eng. Masoud Amir Ismail, the respected Head of the Planning and Follow-up Department, Eng. Ahmed Jabbar Mohsen, and the Deputy Head of the Glass and Insulating Materials Department, Eng. Zeina Faisal Khader, who explained and presented all the practical details. The visit included getting to know all the departments of the center, laboratories and workshops in the center. At the end of the scientific visit, Assist. Prof. Dr. Jamal Jalal and Assist. Prof. Dr. Heba Anwar, praised the efforts made, the good reception and the benefit achieved from such visits in order to gain knowledge and experience.

 On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, the Head of the Materials Engineering Department, Prof. Dr. Jawad Kazim Aliwi, welcomed an engineering delegation from the Building Research Department-Ministry of Construction. This visit is a continuation of the dual cooperation agreement established with the University of Technology earlier this year.

The meeting was attended by Asst. Prof. Dr. Jamal Jalal Daoud, Head of the General Materials Engineering Branch, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Khaled Khadir Abbas, Director of Laboratories. Representing the delegation was Senior Chief Engineer Mrs. Zeina Faisal Khadir. Discussions focused on the potential development of construction materials, aiming to enhance their mechanical, physical, and chemical properties. Following the discussions, the delegation visited the department's specialized laboratories to observe their work and explore available equipment and laboratory procedures.

At the end of the visit, the delegation expressed their interest in further collaboration with the department and benefiting from its expertise to advance and extend the scope of joint cooperation.