Center for Polymers and Advanced Composites (CPAC)

BRYAN BECKINGHAM
Bryan Beckingham
Director, Center For Polymers and Advanced Composites

 

The Center for Polymer and Advanced Composites
Instruction within cm3
Building a collaborative community in polymers and advanced composites

 

The Center for Polymer and Advanced Composites
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Active Funded Research Projects
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Square Feet of Laboratory Space Available
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Faculty/Researchers utilize CPAC's service center annually

About the Center

A dynamic hub for interdisciplinary and collaborative research within the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, the Center for Polymers and Advanced Composites (CPAC) is a leader in materials processing and manufacturing research.

Pushing the envelope in materials design, synthesis, processing, manufacturing, and characterization research, the CPAC facilitates an inclusive and synergistic research ecosystem to generate and exchange fundamental and applied knowledge of high relevance to the polymer and composites industries.

Housed within the Gavin Engineering Research Laboratory, CPAC offers educational opportunities, technical expertise, and specialized polymer and composite synthesis, processing, and characterization capabilities. CPAC’s state-of-the-art facilities include an A2LA-accredited ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory for a range of mechanical and thermal ASTM standard tests.

In addition to close industry and academic ties through our advisory board, CPAC continues to seek long-term university and industry partnerships to advance our research and educational missions.

CPAC Site
Contact CPAC

  • Polymer and material characterization equipment includes mechanical and chemical analyses, polymer 3D printers, advanced 3D imaging, injection molding, rheometer, FTIR spectroscopy, porometer, melt pressing, and extrusion.

  • Specialized testing capabilities are available in chemical, mechanical, and thermal characterization with A2LA accreditation (ISO/IEC 17025) for many common ASTM standards, including mechanical testing such as tensile (D638, D3039/D3039M, and D412), flexural (D790), compression (D575), as well as thermal testing by DSC (D3418), TGA (D3850, E1131), and spectroscopic tests (E1252).

  • Advanced 3D imaging of materials by X-ray micro-computed tomography (CT).

  • The Research Amplification Program (RAMP) allows new faculty complimentary access to facilities and aid for start-up research to obtain preliminary data or to conduct proof-of-concept studies.

  • The ReMake program, in conjunction with the Auburn University Waste Reduction and Recycling Department, recycles 3D filament waste across campus.