Center for Microfibrous Materials Manufacturing (CM3)

Founded in 1996, the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering’s Center for Microfibrous Materials Manufacturing facilitates research development, education, technology transfer, and economic development through the establishment of a small-scale manufacturing facility to produce microfibrous materials—the center’s core proprietary technology.

Research is conducted on campus inside the Wilmore Engineering Laboratory and within Chemical Engineering’s Ross Hall.

Researchers are offered a wide range of next-generation equipment, including process-integrated wet-lay machines, sintering, cutting and forming operations, reactor and electrode loading stations, and analytical quality assurance and quality control devices.

Our vision is to provide a platform for businesses in scale-up and development stages by enhancing training, experience, and overall student value, while also offering a timely, attractive, and cost-effective service to industry.

• Specializations include metal fiber, microfibrous media, process-intensified reactors, thermal management, and desulfurization systems.

• Certified compliant with Defense Contract Audit Agency standards.

• More than 150 graduate, undergraduate, and co-op students earned degrees at Auburn University with Center for Microfibrous Materials Manufacturing Director Bruce Tatarchuk serving as their adviser.

• One of five global producers of micron-diameter metal fibers.

• Products created or impacted by the center include conductive additives that eliminate static charging on airplanes, nickel-fiber electrode-powered weather satellites, and state-of-the-art gas masks worn by NATO and U.S. soldiers.