Research

An image of an illustration of a BNNTImage demonstrationg a self healing material that has been penetrated by a bullet.An Image of a Carbon Nanotube pressure vessel and the images of fiber and molecular structure.A picture of Near Net Integrally Stiffened CylindersA beam laying down a molten wire for additive layer manufacturingImage of ice on the wing of a planeShields-1 radiation materials extends the life of CubeSats from months to years, increasing the science return on investment.An image of the latest version of MISSIE FF

New Materials through Synthesis

Physical Science Centric Discipline “The manipulation of atoms and molecules to produce new materials. Includes the development of new synthetic techniques and methodology, and equipment modification and customization.”

Academic Disciplines include Chemistry,Physics, Ceramics, Metallurgy, and Materials Science.

Technologies are resins (solid and liquid), metal alloys, ceramic solid solutions, coatings, adhesives, nanomaterials, molecularly engineered materials, elastomers, “active/smart” materials.

Products are powders, pellets, ingots, solutions, wafers and other stock forms of materials ready to be processed into test specimens.

synthesis pics

New Materials through Process

Engineering Centric Discipline “The creation of new materials through the processing or combining of stock materials into new forms. Includes the development of new fabrication techniques and technology.”

Academic Disciplines include Chemical, Ceramic, Polymer, Mechanical, and Metallurgical Engineering.

Technologies are processing parameter control, novel fabrication methods, scalable processes, new hybrid materials, bonding and joining technology, extrusion/injection surface engineering and preparation, and equipment design and modification.

Products are particulate, fiber and laminated reinforced composites, films, membranes, engineered surfaces, electrical, optical, and mechanical devices, and prototype structures.

Process

Characterization

Physics Centric Discipline “The analysis of material properties at scales from atomic through bulk. Includes instrument design, statistically based data reporting, and new test method development and validation.”

Academic Disciplines include Chemistry, Physics, Microscopy, and Materials Science.

Technologies are customized analytical equipment, unique property test-data sets, streamlining of verification procedures, forensic failure analysis, validation of new test methodologies.

Products are highly accurate and precise data, quality specimen development, unique analytical methods, accurate lifecycle testing, and a fundamental understanding of material properties and composition as tied to synthesis and processing.

Characterization

Computation

Numerical Methods Centric Discipline “The use of computation to simulate and predict the behavior and interactions of materials from synthesis and processing through lifing. Includes the input of experimental data and the development of computational and process control algorithms.”

Academic Disciplines include Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Engineering.

Technologies are Interactive machine codes, database of experimental inputs and material properties, reduction in the amount of experiments to develop a new material or validate a result.

Products are faster development of new materials, process control algorithms, faster computational methods, increased predicative lifing capabilities, and the development of a Virtual lab.

computation