Materials and Processing

Materials and Processing is concerned with all the processes and activities of converting raw and commodity materials into valuable products for manufacturers or the end consumer.

Processing our raw materials and commodity goods more effectively is important to New Zealand’s continuing economic welfare. We need to develop products that have significant value in world markets, and therefore must understand fully the properties of materials as diverse as food, wood, metals, plastics and fuel. We then need to know how to use this knowledge to design, manufacture and process these materials into high-value products such as dietary formulae, ceramics that can withstand high temperatures, titanium alloys, pharmaceuticals, laminated boards and functional proteins. It is also important to understand the properties of these high-value products and how they will interact with their environment, whether it be within the body or in the atmosphere.

This discipline serves industrial and other activities where material is undergoing a change, be it chemical, biochemical or physical. Process engineering involves knowing how to prepare feed materials, how to make reactions occur, separating and purifying products, controlling wastes, minimising energy usage, and ultimately adding value to the raw materials used to produce something useful to people. These skills form the basis for the majority of New Zealand’s export earnings.

Degrees

• Bachelor of Engineering

Materials and Process Engineering is a specified programme with the Bachelor of Engineering.

• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Science (Technology)

Materials and Processing can also be taken as a second major or supporting subject within most degrees.

School subjects required

NCEA Level 3 Chemistry, Physics and one of Mathematics with Calculus, or Statistics with Modelling. Some first-year papers have specific prerequisites so check the paper list carefully.

Other subjects that may interest you

Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chemistry, Electronic Engineering, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Software Engineering.

Career Opportunities

• Biotechnologist
• Composite Engineer  
• Manager  
• Materials Scientist  
• Process Engineer
• Product Developer  

Potential Employers

• Crown Research Institutes
• Environmental Industries
• Food and Dairy Industries
• Iron and Steel Manufacturing
• Petrochemical and Plastics Industry
• Pulp, Paper and Wood Industries

Papers

MATERIALS AND PROCESSING

ENGG180 Foundations of Engineering
An introduction to engineering analysis and design and the engineering profession. Topics include: the skills of a successful engineer, the nature of design and the design process, fundamental laws for engineering analysis, accounting principles applied to mass, energy, charge, momentum and money, as well as design-build-test experience. This paper is also a requirement for Materials and Process Engineering.

ENMP102 Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering
An introduction to the basic laws and concepts of materials science. Topics include: relation of the structure of solids to the physical and mechanical properties of materials and uses of different type of materials. This paper is also a requirement for Materials and Process Engineering.

MATERIALS AND PROCESS ENGINEERING

The above papers plus:

CHEM101 Chemical Concepts
A study of chemical concepts fundamental to the sciences and technology. Topics include atoms, elements, stoichiometry, intermolecular forces, states of matter, gas-phase, solution, acid-base and redox equilibria, atomic structure, quantum theory, orbitals and electronic configurations, bonding and structure and systematic chemistry of main group elements.
Prerequisite: 14 credits at Level 3 in NCEA Chemistry, or CIE Chemistry with a minimum D pass at AS or A level.

CHEM102 Chemical Change and Organic Compounds
An introduction to physical and organic chemistry with some emphasis on environmental, technological and biological relevance, chemical thermodynamics, reaction kinetics and mechanism and the common organic functional groups and their typical reactions.
Prerequisite: 14 credits at Level 3 in NCEA Chemistry, or CIE Chemistry with  a minimum D pass at AS or A level.

COMP103 Introduction to Computer Science 1
This paper introduces computer programming (assuming no prior knowledge) and a variety of concepts in computer science including representation, storage and manipulation of computer-based information, algorithms for problem-solving and an introduction to information systems.

MATH101 Introduction to Calculus
An introduction to the fundamental techniques of calculus including differentiation and integration for functions of one real variable.
Prerequisite: 18 credits at Level 3 in NCEA Mathematics with Calculus, or Statistics and Modelling with some Calculus background, or CIE Mathematics with a minimum C pass at AS level or A level.

MATH102 Introduction to Algebra
A study of the fundamental techniques and applications of algebra including vector and matrix algebra, complex numbers, induction, and recursion.
Prerequisite: 18 credits at Level 3 in NCEA Statistics and Modelling, or Mathematics with Calculus, or CIE Mathematics with a minimum C pass at AS or A level.

PHYS103 Physics for Scientists and Engineers 1
An introduction to physics suitable for scientists and engineers. Applications of physics to the real world will be emphasised. Topics include: mechanics, dynamics, oscillations, waves, sound, light, and electric and magnetic forces. This paper includes a compulsory laboratory component.
Prerequisite: 14 credits at Level 3 in NCEA Physics, or CIE Physics with a minimum D pass at AS or A level.

200 Level and Beyond
200 and 300 level papers cover a range of topics such as environmental technology, technological innovation and its management, biotechnology, materials performance and mechanical engineering design.