A Career in Fiber and Polymer Engineering: Q&A with Sizo Ncube.

A career in Fiber & Polymer Materials Engineer Q&A

With Sizo Ncube

ND: You are a Fiber & Polymer Materials Engineer, can you break it down for us what it means and what you do?

SN: I am currently a lecturer in the department of fibre and polymer materials engineering at NUST. In materials engineering we are mainly looking at the material properties and how they can be engineered to meet our specific objectives. We are responsible for the processing of the materials to ensure that the final product meets our requirements for example, we can engineer materials that are suitable for high temperature applications.

ND: What inspired you to become a Fibre & Polymer Materials Engineer, and How long have you been working in this industry? 11 year now. I have mainly been lecturing but have conducted research during my studies as well as with my students. My inspiration for materials came mainly from Formula 1. I was inspired by the carbon fibre that engineers had started using to find that all important one second. Carbon fibre is a material that is light and can be as thin as a person’s hair but in comparison it is stronger that steel. When giving examples I like to use situations that are closer to everyday life. We can say for example the phone. There are some phone that have the toughened glass which does not easily scratch or break. That glass is different from the glass at home and it is a special kind of glass that has been engineered to withstand every day use as well as shocks without easily breaking.

ND: Any projects in particular that you have done?

SN: For my Masters studies, I was involved in designing a material that is used for the production of silicon wafers. These are components that are used to produce microchips. Currently with our students, we are doing preliminary research on improving roads using materials mixed with bitumen. We are hoping to incorporate simulation to help with the development process. The field is quite broad as we can engineer materials that can assist with everyday problems in our society. We have staff members on doing PhD studies focusing on water and sanitation, another is focusing on smart agriculture, while another is focusing on composite materials.

ND: What are the requirements for one to be a Fibre & Polymer Materials Engineer and where can someone study in Zimbabwe?

SN: Currently, we require Maths Physics and Chemistry. These are the basic subject that will allow one to do well in the Program.

ND: Can you briefly describe to us how your day looks like as an Engineer?

SN: If I am not in a lecture I am busy with research. Basically my day starts off with design analysis which I do on my computer with advanced software such as Autocad. I do this by carrying out analysis and making adjustments to my product. When that is done, I go to the lab or workshop to synthesise the material and or product. With research sometimes things will fail but that’s where you are tested as an engineer and there is need to correct any problems that arise. Once the product is finished (this may take days in some cases), the next step will be testing and analysing the product in real life situations. Fibres and polymers are units of matter hence the first thing needed is physics and chemistry. Mathematics is also required as everything in engineering is all about calculations. The second thing that is required is passion in the field and for one to be hands-on. One needs to be a visionary and be able to see the product working even before the actual model has been produced.

ND: How big is this industry in Zimbabwe what is the uptake like?

SN: The industry is quite big. We have people there who have been employed in the plastics industry, rubber and of late I know one person who has been employed in the manufacture of lenses.

ND: What are the challenges that you face in your daily?

SN: Sometimes in the industry we face issues of funding. There are tests that require specialised machinery but we do eventually work with other partners who have equipment for our tests. We are working to get more equipment of our own to be resident in our workshops

Recently we got a 3D printer which was used for producing various items such as protective equipment for doctors. We would like to see more of these machines being procured for the university.

ND: How do you manage to over those challenges and what lessons have you learnt from those challenges?

SN: Giving up is not an option. As engineers we try to find alternatives to our challenges. This is one of the characteristics of an engineer. We always have to devise new ways of doing things but where it fails we always go to our friends in the industry to help us out with their equipment. We are also always hunting for grants as a university where we can get funds to run our projects.

ND: What are the business opportunities that come with being a Fiber & Polymer Materials Engineer and how easily accessible in Zimbabwe?

SN: The potential in the industry is vast. We can talk about the car parts industry. Most parts are being imported and this is an opportunity for the rubber manufacturers. We have the moulding industry which is able to supply goods to numerous industries such as the food manufacturing industry, fuel industries and agricultural industries. One needs to do market research as always, before jumping into business but with foreign currency challenges there is a huge opportunity for business people to generate significant income.

ND: What advice can you give to those who aspire to be Fiber & Polymer Materials Engineers?

SN: I would say to them, the field of materials engineering is vast and there are a number of opportunities for the young to explore. In this discussion we have touched on just a few aspects of the industry. It’s just the tip of the iceberg. Through materials engineering one can change the world in a positive way.