Research Projects

i. Research Projects (Current) 

1. "Sulfur Based Polymer Development – Phase II", ARAMCO Funded Project; Project Manager; CHE 02309; June 1, 2009 – Jan. 31, 2011.

2. "Polyethylene/Nanoclay Composites for Aramco gas handling steel pipe lining: Phase I: Formulations and Permeability Measurement", Principal Investigator, KACST National Science & Technology Program, SR 1,000,000. Approved.
3. "Enhancing the Performance of Silicon/Polymer Based Photovoltaic Solar Cells", Task Leader, Project is in Collaboration with MIT, USA, Center of Research Excellence in Renewable Energy, Nov. 2008-Nov 2010.

4. Impact of Surface Modification and Characteristics of Carbon Nano Tubes on the Properties of Polyethylene Nanocomposites; Principal Investigator, Center of Research Excellence in Petroleum Refining and Petrochemicals; KFUPM, September 1, 2008-Sept. 1, 2010.
5.  “Enhancing the Processability of Polyolefins by using Nanoclay Additives”, Principal Investigator, KACST, SR 1.25 million Budget, Accepted.
6. Synthesis; Solution, Melt, and Solid-State Properties of Metallocene Polyolefins with Controlled Long Chain Branching – Phase I, Principal Investigator SR 418,000 Budget, KFUPM, July 2007- June 2009.
7. “Active Site Identification, Mathematical Modeling, Rheological, Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Controlled Microstructure Polyolefins made with Ziegler-Natta Catalysts”, Principal Investigator SR 600,000 Budget, KACST approved. This project is done in collaboration with Professor Joao Soares, University of Waterloo, Canada, June 1, 2007-May 2010.

ii. Research Projects (completed)

1. “Sulfur Modification of Polymers for use in asphalt Binders”, ARAMCO Funded Project; Project Manager; CHE 02279; SR 503,000, July 21, 2007 - Dec 30, 2008.
2. “Influence of Hydrophobe Architecture on Self Assembly, Rheology and Interfacial Properties of Amphiphilic ionic Polymers”, KFUPM, SR 200,000 Budget,Co-Investigator, October 2005-September 2007.
3. “Separation of binary Organic Mixtures Using Novel Composite Polymeric membranes by Pervaporation”, Co-Investigator, Feb. 1, 2006 – Jan 31, 2009, KFUPM funded.
4. “Development of Highly Conductive Composite Membranes for Medium Temperature PEM Fuel Cell”, KFUPM, Co-Investigator, Nov. 2005-April 2008, Budget SR 595,000.
5. “Developing Strategic Alliances with National, Regional and International Institutions”, KFUPM-DAD, SR 59,400 Budget, Sept 2006- April 2007, Team Member.
6. “CHE 204 Transport Phenomena I”, Online Course, KFUPM-DAD funded, Feb-Nov 2007.
7. “Alligning of Research with International Directions and Trends”, KFUPM-DAD, SR 61,400 Budget, April 2007-March 2008, Team Member.
8. Sand Modification using Hydrobond Polymers, Project No. – CEW 2288, Bughshan      Company, SR 2 millions Budget, team member.
9. "Influence of Tacticity and Mw on the Compatibility of PP/LDPE Blends: Rheological,Thermal, Mechanical, and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study", KFUPM- SABIC Grant, Principal Investigator, July 2005-November 2006, Budget SR 73,000.
10. Investigation of the Influence of Molecular Structure on Molecular Characteristics of  metallocene LLDPE by NMR, Light Scattering, DSC, and MD Simulation Techniques, Principal Investigator, KACST, October 2003- September 1, 2006, Budget SR 867,000.
11. “Rheological Testing of Polyolefins”, June 2006, Project # CHE 2770, SABIC, SR 5,000.
12. Synthesis, Thermal, and Rheological Characterization of Composite Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications, KFUPM, Fast Track, Co-Investigator, Budget SR75,000, April 1, 2002 – February 29, 2004.
13. Investigation of Structure-Conformation Relationships in molten m-Polyethylenes by Rheological and Molecular Simulation Techniques, Project Manager, KFUPM-ARI Grant, Budget SR 75,000, November 2002 – December 2003.
14. Influence of Molecular Parameters on the Rheology and Miscibility of molten linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). KFUPM CGS, Principal Investigator, Budget SR 1.28 million, April 2001-April 2004.
15. A study to improve SABIC Polymers for the Performance Modification of Saudi-Asphalt binders”, SABIC, Co-Investigator, April 2003- Nov. 2004, Budget SR 240,000.

c) International collaboration

 1. Professor Joao Soares, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Canada. We currently have a KACST project and another KFUPM funded project is underway. The collaboration is in the area of synthesis of polyethylenes of controlled structures as well as in teaching short courses on Polymer Reaction Engineering.

2. Professor Jose Covas, Chairman, Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal. Collaboration is in the area of polymer processing and nanocomposites.

3. Prof. Kim, Mechanical Eng. Department, MIT, USA.