Research

Faculty in the Department of Plastics Engineering are active researchers. The department maintains an extensive lab facility allowing the faculty to direct research in areas including:

• Plastics Product Design
• Plastics Process Development
  
• Plastics Materials and Additives
• Plastics Mold and Die Design
• Elastomers and Rubber
• Testing and Characterization
• Computer Aided Engineering
• Plastics Recycling
• Polymeric Biomaterials 
  
  
  

• NSF Biodegradable Polymer Research Center The Biodegradable Polymer Research Center (BPRC) functions to carry out exploratory and fundamental researcon on biodegradable polymers to support the technological interests of its members. 
• Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property Technology commercialization takes place within Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP), whereas the focus of our economic development activities is with entrepreneurs and early stage companies within Commercial Venture Development (CVD). 
  
• Nanomanufacturing Center Nanotechnology research is creation scientific breakthroughs at an amazing rate -- inventions that hit the national and international news almost daily. The promise of nanotechnology will not be realized until lab-created inventions can be reliably replicated and manufactured. 
• M2D2

The Plastics Engineering faculty work closely with both industry and governmental organization on plastics related research. Labs describes the department's laboratory facilities.  Individual faculty research interests are described in People. Most research programs are developed between faculty members and the sponsoring company or organization. Project sponsors define their specific needs, and the faculty member(s) develop a proposal.

In such cases, proposal is developed with the assistance of the UMass Lowell Office for Research Administration, the University's one-stop solutions provider for managing research, budgets, technology research programs and technology licensing.  Mechanisms exist for conducting all types of research programs, from simple short-term materials testing or consultations to major multi-year research projects.

For more information contact:

Professor Robert Malloy
Chair, Department of Plastics Engineering
UMass Lowell - Ball Hall, Rm. 204
One University Ave.
Lowell, MA 01854

Tel: 978-934-3435
Fax: 978-458-4141
E-mail: Robert_Malloy@uml.edu

For a listing of past Plastics Engineering Masters Theses (pdf) and Doctoral Dissertations (pdf) are on the web.

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