A wide variety of materials research is carried on within several of the departments at the Colorado School of Mines. Current areas of research include:

  • Synthesis, Processing, and characterization of polymers
  • Buckminster fullerene and related structures
  • Membranes for separation process
  • Synthesis, processing and characterization of photovoltaic materials
  • Optical phenomena of interfaces and composites
  • High-TC superconductors
  • Dielectrics and piezioelectrics
  • Ferroelectrics and ferroelectric thin films
  • Porous ceramics and ceramic fibers
  • Reactive synthesis of advances materials
  • Welding and joining of metals and dissimilar materials including ceramics and composites
  • Processing microstructures, and properties of advanced steels
  • Glasses and crystallizable glasses for electronics
  • Oxidation and corrosion of metals and ceramics
  • Interfacial phenomena
  • Surface characterization of materials
  • Composites
  • Catalysts
  • Preparation of ceramic powders
  • Mineral processing
  • Floatation and flocculation
  • Pyro-, hydro-, and electro-metallurgy
  • Processing of industrial wastes
  • Plasma synthesis and processing
  • Computer simulation techniques to design new high performance materials
  • Thin film/coating, processing, and characterization
  • Environmentally benign materials processes
  • Semiconductor materials
  • Powder metallurgy
  • Aerospace structural materials
  • Thermal degradation of polymers
  • Mechanical behavior of materials
  • Phase transformation in materials
  • Laser surface modification of materials
  • Surface engineering of materials

    • The interdisciplinary nature of materials of research provides exceptional access to faculty expertise and laboratory facilities that include:

    • Optical and electron microscopy
    • Surface analysis
    • Mechanical testing
    • Thermal analysis
    • Spectroscopic analysis
    • Electric and dielectric property analysis
    • Chemical and thermal processing
    • X-ray diffraction
    • Scanning tunneling microscopy
    • Surface characterization of materials
    • Calorimetry
  • Solidification processing
  • Mechanical and thermal forming
  • Thin film fabrication
  • Ceramic and ceramic powder processing
  • Extractive metallurgy
  • Mineral processing
  • Joining of materials
  • Rheological characterization
  • Electrokinetic measurements
  • Nonlinear optical measurements

    • Facilities for robotics and artificial intelligence research are available on campus, as are extensive computational facilities.

    For further information, contact the Program Manager: Sharon Kirts

    Mailing Address:
    Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
    Colorado School of Mines
    Golden, CO 80401
    Phone: 303-273-3660 or 1-800-446-9488 Ext. 3660
    FAX: 303-384-2189

    E-mail: skirts@Mines.EDU

    Last Updated: 06/09/1998