Information and Communications Fabrication & Processing Technology Qualtiy, Reliability, & Maintenance
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Cooperative Research Center in CoatingsThe University of Southern Mississippi and Eastern Michigan UniversityA National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center since 2000.Improved understanding of coatings leads to innovative approaches to coatings-related problemsCenter Mission and RationaleThe Center's two-fold mission is to be a leading academic organization that develops relevant scientific knowledge for understanding and expanding the technology of polymeric coatings and paints for the benefit of its members, and to enlarge the cadre of scientists and technologists capable of working effectively with coatings. Coatings are one of the most important sectors of the U.S economy, and there are many opportunities for substantial technological impact. This Center brings together institutions with highly complementary capabilities to work in this area. USM is one of the leading polymers and coatings programs in the country and has exceptional strengths in the structure-property analysis of coatings; synthesis, formulation, and development of environmentally compliant coatings, and film formation. The EMU faculty are equally strong in a variety of areas relevant to coatings research, including synthetic chemistry, cross-linking of polymers, surface physics, and applications and testing of coatings. One area of special emphasis is ultra-low volatile organic content (VOC) coatings. Research ProgramThe Center started operation in 2000. Its research thrust areas are defined by critical problems facing the coatings industry and coatings users:
The Center performs precompetitive research in seven areas of science and engineering that are directly relevant to these thrust areas:
Projects are conducted by faculty, staff, graduate students, and postdoctoral associates of the two institutions. Resources of the institutions are combined to focus multiple skills on important problems. The Center's Industrial Advisory Board, which meets twice a year, guides project selections and implementation. Each Center member company or organization has one vote on this board. Examples of specific research projects are:
Special Center ActivitiesThe Center is an outgrowth of similar Centers that operated at EMU from 1990 to 1995 and at EMU and North Dakota State University from 1995 to 2000. Tangible accomplishments of the former Centers included:
Capabilities and FacilitiesEMU and USM are two of the largest academic programs in the United States featuring the science and technology of polymeric coatings. Together they bring unequaled resources to the study of coatings. For example, USM offers one of the few existing surface/interfacial laboratories with new FT-IR and FT-Raman instrumentation and currently focuses on combinatorial aspects of polymeric coatings. EMU has strong expertise in the synthesis and evaluation of coatings polymers, supported by up-to-date equipment, state-of-the-art scanning probe microscopy, nanoindentation, and nanoscratch equipment. Center HeadquartersEastern Michigan University and
School of Polymers and High
Center Co-Director: Dr. Theodore Provder
Center Co-Director: Dr. Frank N. Jones
Center Co-Director: Dr. Marek W. Urban
Center Evaluator: Dr. Ron Beck
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