KARACHI, Jan 31: The NED University of Engineering and Technology will have an electron microscopy laboratory after the Higher Education Commission approved the project in its recent meeting of the Departmental Development Working Party in Islamabad.

The establishment of the laboratory will provide analytical facilities for about 5,000 undergraduate and 500 graduate students and researchers of the university.

The analytical facility is expected to help industry to improve product quality using improved materials of correct chemical composition. The lab will be able to provide services to automotive, steel, metal casting, foundries, chemical, oil and gas industries.

The lab will provide a much needed impetus to research activities in the field of material engineering. It will help researchers in analysing present materials and designing new ones. The new breed of nano-materials can only be studied with the new lab facilities.

Proper knowledge of chemical composition of materials is essential to assure quality of products.

The scanning electron microscope is an essential tool used for looking into materials. The causes of failure of components in service cannot be investigated without the help of scanning electron microscope.—PPI