Hub and Spoke

ASCC and ORNL SM2ART collaboration featured in Plastics Technology for Sustainable Solutions for Fiber Reinforced Composite Materials

The SM2ART program collaboration1 between the University of Maine Advanced Structures & Composites Center (ASCC) and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has been featured on the Plastics Technology website for its work in sustainable solutions for fiber-reinforced composite materials.  “Fiber-reinforced composites have revolutionized a variety of application spaces. In many cases, they are not […]

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Applications for our 2024 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) are open!

The Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Alliance for Renewable Technologies (or SM²ART) REU program is designed to provide an opportunity for up to twelve, highly qualified undergraduate students to participate in a ten-week research experience at Oak Ridge National Laboratory or The University of Maine. Students will be granted access to state-of-the-art research facilities and equipment, […]

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ASCC BioHome3D mentioned in ASCC’s S.M.A.R.T. partner, Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s News

Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s (ORNL) news article shares research expanding the possibilities of 3D printing with composite materials.   “One partnership resulted in ORNL and University of Maine researchers creating the nation’s first additively manufactured home made entirely from biobased materials,” said ORNL News. “The properties of the printed home, including recyclability, are similar to those […]

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Revolutionizing Housing Construction: The Power of 3D Printed Bio-Based Floors

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Innovative Housing Showcase on June 9th-11th featured the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC), the DOE’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and one of their industry partners, SHoP Architects, along with the design they collaborated on: bio-based, […]

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ASCC Research Explores the Potential of Bioinspired Nanocellulose-Based Materials

An article by researchers was recently published in Materials Today. Titled, “Bioinspired design toward nanocellulose-based materials”, this research explores using nature as an inspiration for designing and developing nanocellulose materials. Authored by Xianhui Zhao, Samarthya Bhagia, Diego Gomez-Maldonado, Xiaomin Tang, Sanjita Wasti, Shun Lu, Shuyang Zhang, Mahesh Parit, Mitchell L. Rencheck, Matthew Korey, Huixin Jiang, […]

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Eliminating Energy-Intensive Drying with a Sustainable Approach for Nano-Scale Cellulose Nanocrystals

An article by ASCC researchers J. Elliot Sanders, Lu Wang, Gabriella Brinkley & Douglass J. Gardner was recently published in Cellulose. Titled “Production of nano-scale cellulose nanocrystal powder via electrospray drying (ESD) for sustainable composites,”his research explores electrospray drying (ESD) with electro-hydro dynamic atomization (EHDA) to produce dry nano-scale cellulose nanocrystal powder. This approach overcomes […]

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Researchers find nearly 500% increase in surface area compared to unmodified CNF

Researchers from the University of Maine, in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have published a journal article titled, “Polymer-Grafted Cellulose Nanofibrils with Enhanced Interfacial Compatibility for Stronger Poly(lactic acid) Composites” in Applied Polymer Materials on their work developing polymer-grafted cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) for stronger poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites. This research, which is a […]

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Unlocking the Potential of Hydrophobic Cellulose Nanofibrils: Enhancing Composite Reinforcement and Drying Behavior

An article by ASCC researchers Megan Driscoll, Peter Kelly, and William Gramlich was published in Langmuir. Titled “Impact of Aqueous Grafting of Polystyrene through Methacrylate-Modified Cellulose Nanofibrils on Emulsion Stabilization and Drying Behavior”, this research explores how the hydrophobic modification of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) releases the capability for composite reinforcement including CNFs without energy-demanding spray […]

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UMaine’s BioHome3D recognized by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers for excellence in additive manufacturing

The University of Maine has been awarded the Aubin AM Case Study Award for its BioHome3D project. The project, which involves the construction of the world’s first fully bio-based, fully recyclable, 3D-printed house, was recognized for its innovative and effective application of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies. The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) presented the award […]

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