Professor Gilles Lubineau was invited as a Keynote Speaker at the ICPC2024 in Pakistan.

Polymer-based materials are at the forefront of technological advancements, playing a pivotal role across numerous industries and applications. ICPC-2024 is the fourth event of the “International Conference on Polymers and Composites,” which offers a unique platform for exploring and discussing cutting-edge innovations in the field.

This prestigious event will bring together experts to delve into the latest breakthroughs in the synthesis, fabrication, and characterization of polymers and composite materials, fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration to shape the future of these transformative technologies.

At this conference, our ENERCOMP director, Prof. Lubineau, will discuss “Opportunities for collaboration in Composites with KSA: ENERCOMP: a hub for non-metallic composite inspection.”

The increasing importance of non-metallic materials in energy applications in the Middle East in recent years has been unprecedented. Non-metallic composites are strategic for the region for three main reasons. First, such technologies leverage the strength of Saudi Arabia as a major player in the petrochemical industry. Second, this composite industry has strong localization potential to help develop Saudi’s industry. Third, non-metallic composites are becoming an enabling component of future energy production, storage, and transportation systems. In the renewable energy sector, advanced materials are essential. In the more traditional O&G sector, they pave the way for new infrastructures free of metallic corrosion, saving costs and ensuring more sustainable operations. As a consequence, the markets for pipelines, civil engineering structures, and marine and subsea structures are naturally very broad.

KAUST and ARAMCO signed an agreement to create ENERCOMP, the first technology consortium at KAUST. ENERCOMP aims to enable further penetration of composite materials in the energy sector. Its mission is to develop innovative integrity management solutions through collaborations with industry and academia by translating research into deployable technologies.

While the performance of these materials is excellent, they are relatively new. Therefore, there is a need to gain more experience in how they are operated on a daily basis, how we inspect and control them, understanding their evolution and aging, and developing tools and protocols for monitoring such infrastructures. This is the mission of ENERCOMP, which has set short and medium-term objectives. This talk will highlight this consortium and open doors for collaborations with the audience in the broad area of non-metallics and their composites.