As a dynamic research centre, we offer extensive expertise in Materials Science and Engineering-related topics and strive to maintain our position as one of the national leaders in the field.
Our core activities can be split into two trajectories: research and teaching. Self-funded research groupings drive our research, each aligned with the Centre’s strategic objectives. Our teaching activities are centred around the taught BSc(Hons) programme and our MSc(Eng) and PhD programmes. The Centre for Materials Engineering (CME) is located in the Menzies building on the 2nd floor of the University of Cape Town Upper Campus, providing laboratory services, postgraduate workstations, offices and a lecture theatre.
CME comprises a diverse team of academic staff from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the Honours Programme Convenor, and support staff, including those in soft-funded positions and PhD candidates who serve as Laboratory Engineers.
We maintain a student-centric approach to research, with teaching and postgraduate supervision at the Honours, Master's, and PhD levels forming the core of our activities. We measure our success by our research outputs, including publications and graduations, and our contributions to local industry through innovative solutions and knowledge transfer.
We foster a collaborative environment where resources, funding, and expertise are shared among the research groupings, promoting interdisciplinary research and enhancing the overall impact of our work. Support staff, funded through a combination of soft-funded positions and project contributions, play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of the Centre. Our well-established laboratories provide the necessary infrastructure to support high-impact research, and we frequently collaborate internally on collective grants, particularly for new equipment or facility upgrades. Moreover, CME is committed to inclusivity, creating a supportive environment where co-supervision of postgraduate projects and shared learning opportunities are encouraged. We take pride in celebrating our achievements, whether successful PhD proposals, research publications, graduations, or grant awards, fostering a strong sense of community within the Centre.
The BSc(Hons) in Materials Science programme is coordinated by the Programme Convenor and supported by academic staff in collaboration with the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Moreover, we support postgraduate research from other groups and centres within the department and faculty through access to facilities and expertise.
Our mission is to advance interdisciplinary Materials Science and Engineering research and education to enable professionals across academia, industry, and government to address complex materials challenges and drive sustainable, competitive innovation.
We are dedicated to supporting the competitiveness and sustainability of South African Materials Science and Engineering, particularly in the manufacturing industry, by developing capacity and expertise while also providing innovative solutions and translating research findings into practical applications that benefit society and the environment.
We foster interdisciplinary collaboration with academia, industry, and government to address complex materials-related challenges while providing high-quality education and training to develop the next generation of materials scientists in South Africa and beyond.
Through our research, we aim to develop human capacity by actively engaging postgraduate students and collaborating with local and international research partners, industry stakeholders, and government initiatives. CME also plays a vital role in supporting the Mechanical Engineering and Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering programme within the Department, offering infrastructure and expertise to advance these disciplines.
We are committed to promoting inclusivity by attracting and nurturing diverse talent and ensuring equitable opportunities within the field.
The Centre for Materials Engineering (CME) at the University of Cape Town (UCT) began as the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Science in 1972 under the leadership of Professor Tony Ball. Originally a member of the Mechanical Engineering Department, Professor Ball's research quickly gained attention from UCT management, leading to the expansion of materials science and engineering expertise at the university. In addition to contributing to the Mechanical Engineering undergraduate programme, the new department focused on developing postgraduate students at the MSc(Eng) and PhD levels.
The department expanded rapidly, establishing comprehensive capabilities in mechanical testing, microstructure characterisation, film processing, and machine shop support within a newly constructed, purpose-built space. Additional academic staff joined the department, and research flourished with robust support from sponsors such as the Chamber of Mines Research Organisation, Middelburg Steel and Alloys, Hulamin, De Beers Diamond Research Laboratories, and Boart Longyear.
The high demand for research led to the launch of an undergraduate BSc(Eng) programme in Materials Engineering in 1983 to strengthen the pipeline of postgraduate candidates. In 1984, the department formally changed its name to the Department of Materials Engineering and received full accreditation from the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and the Institute of Materials (UK).
In the late 1990’s, UCT began internal streamlining, resulting in the merger of the Department of Materials Engineering with the Department of Mechanical Engineering in 2000.
Materials-focused research became the strongest research activity within the Mechanical Engineering Department, leading to the establishment of the Centre (CME) under the leadership of Professor Rob Knutsen. After serving as Director for 22 years, Professor Knutsen stepped down, and Professor Thorsten Becker assumed the role of Director in January 2022.
Since CME’s inception in 2000, it has maintained a robust research agenda at the postgraduate level, achieving significant milestones and strategic expansions. The Centre has played a pivotal role in supporting government-led advanced manufacturing technology strategies. Historically, CME has been instrumental in advancing research in light metal alloys, which received substantial support due to its alignment with national priorities. Research on novel platinum alloys gained momentum, facilitating further exploration in this field. Additionally, CME assumed a leadership role in developing the Eskom Power Plant Engineering Institute’s (EPPEI) Materials and Mechanics Specialisation, a project central to advancing materials engineering in the energy sector.
More recently, CME has focused on additive manufacturing through the government-led Collaborative Programme in Additive Manufacturing, initially concentrating on titanium alloys and later expanding to a broader range of materials, including nickel-based superalloys, precipitation-hardenable aluminium alloys, and shape memory alloys. CME has also enjoyed strong support from industry partners, in its research focused on the aluminium industry in South Africa with endorsement from the Aluminium Federation of South Africa (AFSA). The Centre's research portfolio has further diversified by introducing biobased polymers and composites, a new area of focus supported by funding from the National Research Foundation (NRF) and internal UCT funding mechanisms.
It is also worth highlighting the BSc(Hons) Materials Science programme hosted within CME, which has been offered as a postgraduate degree for over 20 years. This unique programme in South Africa typically admits candidates with a BSc degree in Chemistry, Physics, Geology, or Biochemistry. The programme has provided an inclusive approach to the various disciplines of Materials Science, combining coursework with a laboratory-based research project. It offers candidates valuable exposure to CME’s research activities and industry associations, equipping graduates with the theoretical and practical skills necessary for further postgraduate studies or careers in the Materials Science and Engineering industries.
CME also serves the university in various materials-related research topics across multiple departments. It supports its sister Centres, such as Blast Impact Survival Research Unit (BISRU) and Centre for Research in Computational and Applied Mechanics (CERECAM), and contributes to research efforts in its department and other departments, such as Civil Engineering. Additionally, the Centre collaborates with faculties, including the Faculty of Science and Health Sciences, to advance interdisciplinary research initiatives.
In 2022, CME celebrated its 50th anniversary, marking a significant milestone in its history.