The facility shown
here is the Dow Institute for Materials Research at Michigan State
University. This facility houses the Composite Materials and
Structures Center, a state of the art facility containing more that
$9 million in analytical characterization
equipment for polymer composites
research and annual research expenditures of $5 million. The NSF
Center on Low-Cost, High-Speed Polymer Composites Processing is
located within the Composite Materials and Structures Center. The
Advanced Materials Engineering Experiment Station (AMEES) in
Midland, Michigan is also a part of the Composite Center. AMEES is
an experimental research station which offers state of the art
equipment for composites processing in a setting which is ideal for
"non-core" or proprietary research.
The goal of the Center is the development, understanding and
deployment of technology to reduce the:
|
▪
Cost of producing polymer
composites by reducing costs of components |
|
▪
Cost of processing by developing
new high speed processing technologies |
|
▪
Time to implement new composite
designs and processes using knowledge-based systems |
| |
Polymeric matrix
composites are materials which contain polymers as matrix materials
surrounding very small reinforcing fibers and/or fillers. Matrix
materials are either thermosetting or thermoplastic polymers.
Reinforcing fibers are either continuous or chopped. In general,
polymer composites processing includes contracting of polymer and
fibers, shaping, controlled heating and/or reactions, and cooling.
The technology of polymer composites has been driven to a large
extent by aerospace and military applications. These high
performance materials are composed of expensive constituents and
made by slow, labor-intensive processing methods. The potential for
these materials to revolutionize other sectors of the economy such
as durable goods will not be realized unless innovations in polymer
matrix composites processing are achieved.
Advantages of Polymer Composites:
▪
High specific strength properties
(20-40% weight savings)
▪
Ability to fabricate directional
mechanical properties
▪
Outstanding corrosion resistance
▪
Excellent Fatigue and fracture
resistance
▪
Lower tooling cost alternatives
▪
Lower thermal expansion properties
▪
Simplification of manufacturing by
parts integration
▪
Potential for rapid process cycles
▪
Ability to meet stringent
dimensional stability requirements
Contact the NSF Center
Please contact
the Center with any inquiries into specific research projects,
center organization and operations, or membership opportunities.
NSF Center
Address:
National Science Foundation Center for
Low-Cost, High-Speed Polymer Composites
2100 Engineering Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI. 48824-1226
Phone: (517) 353-5466
Fax: (517) 432-1634
NSF Center
Co-Director
Lawrence T. Drzal
Phone: (517) 353-7759
NSF Center
Co-Director
Martin C. Hawley
Phone: (517) 355-9687
Director of
the Advanced Materials Engineering Experiment Station
Tom Mase
2112 Engineering Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1226
Phone: (517) 432-4939
Fax: (517) 432-1634
Program
Manager for the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS)
Chuck Ryan,
Ph.D.
3025 Boardwalk
Ann Arbor, MI 48108-3266
Phone: (734) 995-4905
Fax: (734) 995-1150
Tech Transfer
Specialist for the Composite Materials and Structures Center at MSU
Bart
Moore
Phone: (517) 353-3969
