SM2ART

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The Specialized Materials and Manufacturing Alliance for Resilient Technologies (SM2ART) is focused on driving down the cost of manufacturing by using locally sourced materials and leveraging the scale of production made possible by the capabilities of Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Maine. SM2ART is creating the factory of the future and supporting the onshoring on manufacturing jobs in the United States.

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Established in 2016, SM2ART has seamlessly integrated the expansive advanced manufacturing capabilities of ORNL’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility with the specialized expertise in bio-based composites from the UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center. SM2ART works alongside industry to increase adoption of new feedstocks, reinvigorate the nation’s forestry industry with new jobs, and advance cost-effective manufacturing. SM2ART has forged more than 50 industry partnerships across the country.

SM2ART is supported by DOE’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office and has the following goals:

  1. Developing platform technologies to use and optimize locally sourced materials for advanced manufacturing.
  2. Transforming, expanding, and connecting existing materials supply chains to enable low-cost materials that are engineered for energy applications.
  3. Expanding on a strong culture of industrial collaboration that bridges regional manufacturers with world-class research institutions to spin off next-gen technologies.
  4. Demonstrating and scaling-up additive manufacturing technologies to create large complex components with precision for energy and infrastructure applications.
  5. Leveraging workforce development programs to build next-generation leaders through experiential learning and entrepreneurial training programs. 

 

SM2ART Stories

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Model of tornado-like spinning air within the high shear drying system. Credit: ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
Mini tornadoes spin out dried cellulose nanofibers
Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a novel extrusion system that combines multiple 3D-printing extruders into a single, high-output stream via specially designed nozzles. This system matches the speed of larger extruders while providing greater flexibility, precision and multi-material printing capabilities.
New 3D printing extrusion system redefines limits
Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, or MDF, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in partnership with Kairos Power and Barnard Construction, has successfully developed and validated large-scale, 3D-printed polymer composite forms for casting complex, high-precision concrete structures that would be technically challenging and costly to produce using conventional methods.
3D printing reshapes construction for nuclear energy
ORNL scientists used molecular dynamics simulations, exascale computing, lab testing and analysis to accelerate the development of an energy-saving method to produce nanocellulosic fibers.
Molecular simulations, supercomputing lead to energy-saving biomaterials breakthrough
Five girls stand outside of a red brick building with iron gate out front, Stephen King's house.
Banana fiber provides ’a-peeling’ fodder for undergraduate research
A tall grey building is off to the right, towering over a living space module that is being hoisted by a crane
Researchers make ‘green’ floor to replace steel
ORNL Composites Innovation staff members David Nuttall, left, and Vipin Kumar use additive manufacturing compression molding to produce a composite-based finished part in minutes. AMCM technology could accelerate decarbonization of the automobile and aerospace industries. Credit: ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
‘Cradle to cradle’ research expands composites’ 3D-printing possibilities
SM2ART team members receive the CAMX Combined Strength Award at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Pictured here are, from left, ORNL’s Dan Coughlin, Sana Elyas, Halil Tekinalp, Amber Hubbard, Soydan Ozcan; University of Maine’s Susan MacKay, Angelina Buzzelli, Scott Tomlinson, Wesley Bisson; and ORNL’s Matt Korey and Vlastimil Kunc. Credit: University of Maine
BioHome3D team wins CAMX Combined Strength Award
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Researchers at the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility have demonstrated that polylactic acid, or PLA, combined with a wood flour blend derived from corn residue and lumber processing waste can produce recyclable, large-format additively manufactured parts.

Research and Development

SM2ART teams are conducting fundamental research for novel feedstock design and development, including cellulose nanofibril (CNF) production, drying, functionalization, compounding with thermoplastics, multi-scale modeling, and life-cycle analysis. Materials are put to the test through a variety of construction projects at varying scales using large-area advanced manufacturing, from buildings to bridges.

Discover SM2ART's research portfolio
REU Students

Workforce Development

SM2ART is developing a talent pipeline to maximize workforce development efforts. The Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates program provides hands-on learning through immersive research projects at both institutions. Many students are also engaged in ongoing DOE-support projects related to bio-based materials design and development for a range of end-use applications. 

Discover SM2ART opportunities for students
Group of people in safety vests and hard hats

Industry Engagement

A Technical Collaboration Program enables SM2ART to collaborate with more than a dozen industry partners on short-term agreements across the agriculture, construction, energy production, forestry, and marine sectors.

Learn more about SM2ART industry opportunities

Leadership

Soydan Ozcan

Principal Investigator and Program Lead | ORNL

ozcans@ornl.gov

Susan MacKay

Senior Research and Development Program Manager | UMaine

susan.mackay@maine.edu

 

Connect with SM2ART’s technical collaboration coordinators: 

Dan Coughlin (ORNL) or Greg Simms (UMaine).