The multidiscipinary degree covers engineering and science disciplines involved in the production of paper, tissue, and other products from natural fiber. Individual programs of study are reviewed at the school level.

General Georgia Tech Graduate Studies and Admissions

 

PSE Course Requirements for PSE Fellows

All students funded on a PSE Fellowship must complete 12 credits of PSE coursework. These 12 credits constitute a PSE minor or, when combined with other courses determined by the home school, constitute the curriculum for a PSE degree. Students completing the PSE minor must file the attached form with the home school as well as the IPST Director’s office prior to graduation.

 

PSE Core courses (each course is 3 credit hours)

Required of students in all home schools

ChBE/ME 6741	Pulp and Paper Manufacture I  (fall semester only)
ChBE/ME 6742	Pulp and Paper Manufacture II  (spring semester only)

Two courses from the following list (all spring semester only)

ChBE 6232	Chemical Engineering Processes in Pulp & Paper Manufacturing  (Prerequisite ChBE/ME 6741)
ME 6281	Mechanics of Paper Forming and Coating
MSE 6406	Environmental Degradation of Materials
CHEM 8833	Pulping and bleaching chemistry

Other courses may be added to this list after approval by the PSE Faculty Committee.

 

PSE Course Descriptions

ChBE/ME  6741 - Pulp and Paper Manufacture I

The fundamentals of pulp and paper technology including unit operations involved in the sequence leading up to the headbox in a paper mill. Applications are explored and augmented by field trips and recent case studies.

3.000 Credit Hours; 3.000 Lecture Hours;

 

ChBE/ME 6742 - Pulp and Paper Manufacture II

Papermaking technology from a multidisciplinary engineering perspective with emphasis on relationships between transport and interaction of fiber suspensions on the final properties of the finished paper. Students participate in groups to run a pilot papermaking trial at the Henry Foundation in Savannah.

3.000 Credit Hours; 3.000 Lecture Hours;

 

ChBE 6232 – Chemical Engineering Processes in Pulp & Paper Manufacturing

The science and engineering of processes in the pulp and paper industry, including advanced bleaching processes, and chemical recovery processes. Environmental modeling and papermaking chemistry will also be covered.

3.000 Credit Hours; 3.000 Lecture Hours;

 

ME 6281 – Mechanics of Paper Forming and Coating

Fundamentals of multiphase flow in paper forming and coating processes, and their impact on the physical properties of composite fiber structures and surface characteristics. Flow characteristics of suspensions in process components are analyzed in depth.

3.000 Credit Hours; 3.000 Lecture Hours;

 

MSE 6406 - Environmental Degradation of Materials

Basic interactions of materials with their environment. Degradation of the properties of materials when exposed to different environments. Includes fundamentals of corrosion, with appropriate examples from bleach plants, boilers, paper machines, and water treatment plants.

3.000 Credit Hours; 3.000 Lecture Hours.

 

Chem 8833 – Pulping and Bleaching Chemistry

Fundamental chemistry associated with pulping and bleaching of wood. Includes detailed analysis of the chemical structure of wood components, the reactions of pulping and bleaching reagents with typical carbohydrate and lignin functional groups, and the factors that govern the degree of lignin vs carbohydrate degradation.

3.000 Credit Hours; 3.000 Lecture Hours;