Performance Polymers, Fibres and Textiles - course unit details - MEng Materials Science and Engineering with Corrosion - full details (2025 entry)

Duration: 4 years
Year of entry: 2025
UCAS course code: F203 / Institution code: M20

Key features:
Scholarships available
Accredited course

Typical A-level offer: AAA including specific subjects
Typical contextual A-level offer: AAB including specific subjects
Refugee/care-experienced offer: ABB including specific subjects
Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 36 points overall with 6,6,6 at HL, including specific requirements

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Fees and funding

Fees

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £38,000 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability and we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances.

For information about scholarships and bursaries please see our undergraduate fees pages and check the Department's funding pages .

Course unit details:
Performance Polymers, Fibres and Textiles

Course unit fact file
Unit code	MATS24112
Credit rating	10
Unit level	Level 5
Teaching period(s)	Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit?	No

Overview

Lecture topics include:

Polymers

Fibre properties

Physical and chemical modifications of bires for different applications

Coloration

Colour specification

Aims

The unit aims to:

Categorize the different polymers, fibres and textiles classes;
Illustrate an understanding of why certain polymer, fibre and textile with specific chemical, thermal and mechanical properties are used for selected applications;
Describe aspects of colour communication, and describe the necessity for, and scientific basis of, colour communication systems;
Design new products, including specific polymers, textiles and functional fabrics via appropriate functional chemicals, finishing or colouration.

Learning outcomes

A greater depth of the learning outcomes will be covered in the following sections:

Knowledge and understanding
Intellectual skills
Practical skills
Transferable skills and personal qualities

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, practical laboratory sessions, recommended textbooks, web resources, past exam papers, electronic supporting information (Blackboard), peer-assisted study sessions (PASS).

Knowledge and understanding

• Interpret the differences and defining properties of the major classes of polymers.

• Interpret the structure-property-performance relationships of a range of polymers.

• Describe how the chemical, thermal and mechanical properties of polymers influence their selection for applications.

• Explain the effects of fillers and fibre reinforcements on polymers.

• Explain the physical properties required for a typical textile fibre and the production and properties of the most important textile fibres.

• Show how man-made fibres can be tailored for specific uses.

• Define the performances of constructed textiles.

• Tell the 1 - Knowledge and understanding of the principles of coloration of natural and synthetic fibres.

• Describe the likely application conditions, characteristics and performance profile of the most common dye classes for natural and synthetic fibres.

• Memorize 1 - Knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of colour measurement and communication in textiles.

Intellectual skills

• Identify the appropriate polymers for specific applications.

• Apply simple models to the mechanical properties of polymers.

• Explain and relate how the physical properties of polymers, fibres and textiles depend upon their molecular structures.

• Appraise the technical aspects of textile production, and be able to communicate this topic with a degree of effectiveness with practitioners in the textile supply chain.

• Be able to relate the coloration of textiles with the chemical structure of dyes and common textile polymers.

• Develop a logical approach to problem-solving technical issues in the coloration process.

• Describe aspects of colour communication, and describe the necessity for, and scientific basis of, colour communication systems.

Practical skills

• Develop awareness of practical aspects associated with performing tests to measure polymer mechanical properties

• Analyse the results from materials testing experiments to measure physical properties of different polymers.

• Design specific polymers, textiles and functional fabrics via appropriate functional chemicals, finishing or coloration.

• Interpret experimental investigations of textile properties.

• Ability to identify and employ appropriate sources of information.

Transferable skills and personal qualities

• Solve problems utilising appropriate numerical skills and algebraic methods.

• Assess results critically and Communicate results reliably and effectively.

• Work effectively in a group to solve problems.

• Compose simple technical reports on laboratory tests.

• Develop collaboration with all practitioners in the polymer and textile industry, with a degree of effectiveness.

Assessment methods

Method	Weight
Written exam	70%
Written assignment (inc essay)	30%

Feedback methods

Verbal and written

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures	20

Independent study hours
Independent study	80

Teaching staff

Staff member	Role
Niamh Fox	Unit coordinator

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MEng Materials Science and Engineering with Corrosion