09
Apr 2026
Materials Science and Engineering and Applied Physics Seminar
Carbon Fiber for the Kingdom
Abstract
Dr. Karina Kopeć will present her work on the development of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based high-strength, intermediate-modulus carbon fibers. The talk will highlight the critical role of precursor chemistry, solution spinning, oxidative stabilization, and carbonization parameters in defining the final tensile strength and modulus of carbon fibers, as well as their suitability for various structural applications.
The seminar will also address the economics of carbon fiber production and current industrial trends aimed at expanding carbon fiber adoption into cost-sensitive, high-volume markets. Particular attention will be given to alternative precursor strategies, including Aramco’s focus on pitch-based carbon fibers and interest in polyethylene.
Finally, Dr. Kopeć will briefly reflect on her professional journey as a female scientist in Saudi Arabia, including her experience of being the only female engineer among 21,000 employees at SABIC, and share perspectives on leadership and representation in industrial R&D.
Biography
Dr. Karina Kopeć is an industrial scientist with over 15 years of experience in advanced materials research and production. She holds a PhD in Membrane Science and Technology from the University of Twente (The Netherlands), and MSc degrees from Münster University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and Cracow University of Technology (Poland). She subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at RWTH Aachen University (Germany).
Dr. Kopeć joined Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) in 2013 at its Technology Center at KAUST, where she initially led membrane separation projects before transitioning to carbon fiber research. From 2020 onward, she led SABIC’s Carbon Fiber Development Program, focusing on precursor development and manufacturing scale-up. She recently joined Aramco, where she continues to advance the Kingdom’s ambition to establish domestic carbon fiber production in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.