Advanced Materials
Advanced materials research is about making products that are better, smarter and faster. Clemson’s Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, internationally recognized for its work in advanced fibers, films, ceramics, plastics, optics, composites and nanomaterials, has received funding from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, NASA and the private sector to support its innovations in these arenas.
Access to an electron imaging laboratory with the nation’s highest-resolution university electron microscope, plus 100,000 square feet of laser and instrumentation labs, gives top-flight researchers a competitive edge. Clemson is the only university in the Americas – and one of a few in the world – with the complete capability to make optical fiber, which has applications in modern communications systems, transforms surgical procedures and strengthens homeland security and national defense systems.
Manipulating materials at the molecular level, Clemson researchers are developing extremely sensitive sensors and faster semiconductor materials. On a larger scale they are creating new composites for manufacturing and construction. Some find inspiration in nature – investigating, for instance, how to insert spider genes into plants to create a super-strong silk that can be used to repair the human body.
Through collaborative efforts such as the Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies, Clemson faculty and students team with industry, education and economic development partners to strengthen the economic fabric of South Carolina and the nation.
From health care to high-performance computing, advanced materials are the key to next-generation products and processes that will improve the quality of life for everyone.
Related Centers and Programs:
Advanced Materials Center
Center for Advanced Engineering Fibers and Films
Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET)
Clemson Institute for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing
Clemson University Restoration Institute
Electron Microscope Facility
Laboratory for Advanced Plastic Materials and Technology
Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics