Center for Sustainable Macromolecular Materials and Manufacturing

Our Centers / Sustainable Macromolecular Materials and Manufacturing

Building greener materials

Our world is blessed and cursed with innovations based in macromolecular science and engineering that have provided plastics that now exceed 600 billion pounds per year across the globe. These plastics enhance the quality and quantity of our lives while accumulating in our environment. Biology provides both the inspiration as well as an expanded toolbox for the design of renewable monomers and polymers to address the problem of plastic waste and enable a circular plastic economy.

The Biodesign Center for Sustainable Macromolecular Materials and Manufacturing integrates the concepts of green chemistry and sustainable engineering practices across the continuum of materials innovation to provide the products we need for a sustainable life. Efforts utilize additive manufacturing processes and focus on multiphase systems. The center embraces a “molecules to manufacturing to marketplace” paradigm to catalyze innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Director

Tim Long

Tim Long’s interests span structure-property-processing relationships for polymers with a focus on multiphase systems. His most recent research efforts address the need for tailored advanced macromolecules for advanced manufacturing (3D printing), including vat photopolymerization, direct-ink-write printing, selective laser sintering, powder bed fusion and extrusion. This research has led to new families of engineering polymers, photo-reactive polymers, tissue scaffolds and enzyme delivery systems.

Meet our center’s experts

Our center is supported by a knowledgeable team of researchers, staff and visionary leaders who are at the leading edge of their fields.


Contact

For questions about collaborations and center administration, please contact:

A big, bold vision to change the world

A big, bold vision to change the world

Dec 6, 2024

Biodesign Institute center directors talk about how their work is inspired by nature, how it benefits society, and the unique culture of...

A world full of plastic ... not fantastic

A world full of plastic ... not fantastic

Nov 20, 2024

ASU researchers and faculty are addressing the challenges of waste — from developing new materials to understanding consumer behavior to...

Professor awarded prestigious DOE Early Career Award

Professor awarded prestigious DOE Early Career Award

Oct 21, 2024

For her work exploring a generation of new materials with the potential to help develop innovative energy solutions, ASU researcher Eileen...

Support the Biodesign Center for Sustainable Macromolecular Materials and Manufacturing

Integrating green chemistry and sustainable energy to create innovative, sustainable materials.