Research
Research
Research
AMMI is dedicated to advancing fundamental and applied science and engineering technology related to materials and manufacturing. Through a dynamic working environment that educates and trains the next generation of holistically thinking scientists and engineers, our research is mapped to our four strategic technical initiatives: (1) Advanced Composites, (2) Optics & Photonics, (3) Clean & Green Energy, and (4) Sustainability. Likewise, our four strategic technical initiatives are mapped with the nation’s/state’s greatest challenges in education, food & water, energy, national security, and sustainability, all of which rely on the advancements of materials and manufacturing as well as on the education and training of our workforce.
Advanced Composites
Recognizing the importance of composites and the components that comprise such materials to everyday life, AMMI is dedicated to improving the quality of our composites as well as enhancing the throughput, safety, environmental stewardship, and material utilization of their manufacturing processes. Currently, we are conducting research in the areas of coatings, adhesives, glass fiber reinforced polymer composites, carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites, fibers, fiber mats, fillers, thermoplastics, and thermosets. We employ resin transfer molding, vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding, hot press molding, extruding, and injection molding manufacturing processes along with UV/VIS and thermal curing processes to produce our materials. We also utilize 3D printing techniques such as direct-write ink, vat photopolymerization, fused filament fabrication, and cold spray additive manufacturing (CSAM). CSAM is an advanced manufacturing technique that deposits material via high-velocity, non-melting particle sprays to build, repair, or coat parts layer by layer.
Optics & Photonics
Optical components and photonics-based technologies are ubiquitous. Advances in communications, medical devices, healthcare, national security, sensing, energy technologies, consumer electronics, advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and space exploration depend on optical components and photonics-based technologies. Currently, we are conducting research in the areas of 3D printing optical components, ultra-low frequency Raman spectroscopy methods, and laser zone drawn nanofiber characterization methods.
Clean & Green Energy
With the demand of clean and dependable energy ever increasing, improvements in energy generation, storage, and transmission technologies are of utmost importance. AMMI strives to contribute to such improvements with our current energy-related research focused on the utilization of chemical vapor deposition approaches to create polymer thin films and coatings for applications in renewable energy (e.g., photovoltaics, supercapacitors, and batteries) as well as the utilization of renewable resources in the development of renewable energy components. We are interested in advancing clean energy technologies conducting R&D and training students in this field.
Sustainability
The term sustainability has many definitions and can mean different things to different people in different settings. Here at AMMI, the term sustainability wears many hats as well. To us, sustainability refers to exploring the possibility of bio-based renewables (e.g., birch tree bark components, lignin-derived monomers, cashew nutshell liquid molecules, and hemp fibers) in the development of thoughtfully engineered coatings, adhesives, polymers, fibers, composites, and nutraceuticals. It also refers to conducting recycling research – from improving end-of-life plastics downcycling and upcycling strategies to recirculating container, flat, and manufacturing floor glass for practical and advanced research and technological applications to optimizing chemical and manufacturing processes, including 3D printing techniques, such that material and energy are utilized as efficiently, safely, and environmentally conscience as possible. We think of our Sustainability strategic technical initiative as The Initiative that blankets our other three strategic technical initiatives and is at the heart of AMMI R&D, training, pedagogy, and partnerships.