MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2016
The University of Akron (UA) celebrated the expansion of facilities and capabilities in its corrosion research center with an open house Tuesday (June 21).
The National Center for Education and Research on Corrosion and Materials Performance (NCERCAMP) is dedicated to helping industry and government agencies improve material performance, mitigate the effects of corrosion and manage risk through research, technical service, education and training.
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The expansion of facilities and capabilities at the University of Akron's corrosion research center puts "everything—from the leading experts in corrosion to research to diagnostics to training capabilities—all in one place,” according to Dr. Rex Ramsier. |
The event was organized around the theme of “The Fight Against Corrosion,” which causes $423 billion of damage in North America alone, according to UA’s announcement.
“What businesses and government agencies will find at NCERCAMP is a focus on corrosion—and a corresponding level of expertise—available nowhere else,” said Dr. Rex Ramsier, NCERCAMP principal investigator and UA interim senior vice president and provost.
“And while it’s possible to find pieces of what we offer elsewhere, only at NCERCAMP is everything—from the leading experts in corrosion to research to diagnostics to training capabilities—all in one place.”
Attendees included Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Parker Hannifin, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the university noted.
New Labs, Capabilities
The center offers programs and services in education and workforce training, research and technology development, as well as outreach and public policy activities.
It also boasts a core set of specialized laboratories that support activities ranging from materials performance, structural analysis and advanced material development to product testing and deployment, according to its website.
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Ph.D. students in UA's corrosion engineering program show off the laboratory equipment and testing processes, including coatings performance testing capabilities.   |
Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony, attendees, representing government and industry, took tours of the expanded facility, during which UA unveiled its newest labs and capabilities:
Industry Involvement
NCERCAMP, established in 2010 by Congress and the U.S. Department of Defense, complements UA’s undergraduate program in corrosion engineering, the only one of its kind in the U.S.
The center serves as a strategic partner of the DoD’s Office of Corrosion Policy and Oversight. According to Cleveland.com, the university had received two grants totaling $15.2 million from the DoD for personnel and equipment in 2011 and 2012, adding that they expired this summer.
In addition to a formal memorandum of understanding with NACE International, NCERCAMP boasts relationships with organizations such as SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings and ASM International, which help to maintain industry involvement in the program.
Tagged categories: ASTM; Coating Materials; Colleges and Universities; Corrosion; Corrosion engineering; Department of Defense (DOD); Laboratory testing; NACE; Research and development; Salt fog; SSPC; Technology; University of Akron
