Composite Manufacturing Technology Center - 113 RW
The Composites Manufacturing Technology Center (CMTC) at The Pennsylvania State University was formed in 1988 in response to the need for an interdisciplinary approach to the use of basic and applied research to solve fundamental problems in composite materials and structures manufacturing technology. The Center serves as the focal point of inter-departmental research and education in advanced structural composites at the University Park Campus in the College of Engineering. Housed in a 15,000 sq. ft. laboratory are modern facilities for fabrication, characterization, and performance evaluation of laboratory-scale and full-scale composite structures. Approximately 10 to 15 faculty work with students on composites-related research projects in the CMTC Laboratory. In addition, graduate laboratory classes on polymer composites, experimental stress analysis, and related characterization methods are taught in the laboratory.
The mission of the CMTC can be summarized as follows:
- Facilitate and promote research through collaboration and sharing of equipment and resources internal and external to the university
- Educate and train scientists and engineers by providing exposure to advanced research, instrumentation, and facilities in a multidisciplinary setting
- Provide a forum for the exchange of technical information and expertise
- Improve existing technology and develop new technology to decrease manufacturing cost and improve product quality
Fabrication capabilities of the CMTC include resin transfer molding, filament winding, autoclaving, pultrusion, hot pressing, wet layup, carbon pyrolysis, and braiding. Characterization capabilities include ultrasonics, acoustic emission, X-radiography, infrared thermography, eddy current, thermal analysis, and microscopy. Composite materials performance is evaluated with a comprehensive array of testing equipment such as servo-hydraulic and screw-driven load frames, a high-rate servo-hydraulic load frame with high speed laser flash video recording, high temperature creep frames, an instrumented drop-weight impact tester, environmentally-controlled wear testers, and a vacuum-ready flywheel spin chamber.
Click here for Research Activities for the Composite Manufacturing Technology Center