Transportation
From Rubber Tires to Mars Landers
Improvements in transportation are primarily the result of advances in materials. Lighter, stronger, more corrosion- resistant composites can reduce the weight of vehicles, improve their safety, and extend their life. Carbon nanofibers added to tires dramatically extend their wear life. Nano coatings on metal create superhard surfaces that resist micrometeor impacts during spaceflight as well as the errant grocery cart in the parking lot. Ultrahigh strength steel composites using carbon nanofibers 100 times stronger than steel at 1/6 the weight offer good formability, corrosion resistance, and good surface finish. These products are already on the market or coming soon.
Transportation Research:
- Applied Research Laboratory (ARL)
- Materials Characterization Laboratory (MCL)
- Materials Simulation Center (MSC)
- Nanofabrication Laboratory
- National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network at Penn State (NNIN@Penn State)
Transportation News:
- A Method for Making Ultra-Clean Transportation Fuels
- Energy at the Crossroads
- Penn State Poised to Become Energy U
Research Nuggets:
- Nugget 1
- Nugget 2
Transportation Faculty:
Grimes, Craig A.
- Professor of Electrical Engineering
- Director, Center for Solar Nanomaterials
- 814-865-9142 - Validate to view contact info
- http://www.ee.psu.edu/faculty/grimes/grimes1.html
Lueking, Angela
- Associate Professor of Energy & Geo-Environmental Engineering
- 814-863-6256 - Validate to view contact info
- http://www.eme.psu.edu/faculty/lueking.htm
Wang, Chao-Yang
- Professor of Mechanical Engineering
- Director of Electrochemical Engine Center
- 814-863-4762 - Validate to view contact info
- http://mtrl1.me.psu.edu/Mtrl/CYWang.html
