Materials

Solution: To Create New Products

Advanced materials and the science behind them will be used to make products that are more efficient, environmentally friendly, and tailored to specific needs. Battelle-Korea’s global network of scientists and specialists are at the cutting edge of developing materials for a wide range of products—from coatings that are icephobic to de-ice aircraft, to fibers that detect radiation, to engineered and composite materials for automobile manufacturing, to optically clear polymers used in the displays of computers and small electronics.

At the most basic level, our materials scientists are controlling interfaces and interfacial processes in materials to design and develop functional materials for controlled porosity, to use as catalysts and in composites, and to create dielectric films with tailored photonic and electronic properties. Our work in optimizing the properties of nanomaterials has applications to products across the board—from surgical instruments to solar cells to nanoscale circuits and computers.

Our materials experts are creating an entire family of consumer products based on the oils and proteins from soybeans that are recyclable, biodegradable, non-polluting, and energy efficient. Made from renewable resources with tailored functionality, these new bio-based products, including adhesives, plasticizers, lubricants, coatings, toners for copying machines, new specialty chemicals, and structural biocomposites, combine advanced materials expertise with biotechnology know-how. They, and products like them, represent the future of sustainable consumer products.