Co-Author(s): Anil Netravali, Maria Auad, and, Shaik Zainuddin

Center for Sustainable Lightweight Advanced Materials (C-SLAM) was established at Tuskegee University (TU) with the funding from NSF for a period of five years starting October 2018. Collaborators from within the USA include Auburn University (AU), Cornell University (CU) and several industry and national laboratories. International collaboration is built upon the existing relationships with researchers from Brazil and India. The research focus areas of the proposed center include three synergistic subprojects: I). Nanobiomaterials Extraction, II). Biopolymers Design and Synthesis, and III). Advanced Green Composites. Activities in Subproject I include synthesis of a variety of nanomaterials from waste resources like rice husk, bone ash, fish scales etc., extraction of cellulose in various forms and lignin from plants, and production of nanofibers. Activities in Subproject II include synthesis of biopolymers from lignocellulosic biomass, development of resins with excellent thermal and mechanical properties from agricultural and food processing wastes. Subproject III activities will focus on development of advanced green composites through use of plant fibers, fibers from liquid crystalline and bacterial cellulose. In addition, durability and toughening characteristics of advanced composites will be enhanced through development of autonomously self-healing polymers and composites, toughened fibers and resins. Partnership from within the USA and abroad, personnel from industry and national laboratories will ensure addressing basic science questions while solving global problems.