Huntsville, AL | September 21, 2017 – CFD Research Corporation is a key member of a new $20M National Science Foundation (NSF) plasma technology research project funded through the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program. The award signifies the recognition of CFDRC contributions to plasma science and technologies.
The project led by the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), focuses on understanding the processes and interactions of low-temperature plasmas and will use this knowledge to develop technologies for applications ranging from aerospace and manufacturing to food safety. The research includes theoretical, computational and experimental approaches to understand, predict and control low-temperature plasmas and the preparation of novel materials with unique electronic, optical, mechanical and biological properties.
“Potential applications include the development of plasma treatments for prosthetic materials, and the disinfection of plant seed and food,” said Dr. Gary Zank, principal investigator for the EPSCoR project. “The project will share resources and leverage partnerships among Alabama institutions of higher learning and industries and establish national and international collaborations and support industry internship applications for graduate and undergraduate students.”
“Plasma processing has found an increasing number of applications for manufacturing smart materials, nanotechnologies, biomedical, environmental, agriculture and food safety. For many of these industries, understanding plasma interactions with solid, liquid, and biomatter are of crucial importance,” says Dr. Vladimir Kolobov, Technical Fellow and manager of Plasma Technologies at CFDRC.
Recently, Dr Kolobov collaborated with UAH and Oakwood University to experimentally observe cold plasma activation of sensitive plants. The EPSCoR project will allow continuation of this research to understand the underlying mechanisms and promote plasma technology for plant developmental control and future use for plant protection from pathogens. This creates great excitement of scientists at Alabama A&M University who envision using plasma technology for agriculture and food safety applications.
CFDRC will play an important role in the EPSCoR project. Dr Kolobov, a Co-Director of the project, is responsible for the thrust “Particle Kinetics in Low Temperature Plasma”. CFDRC will share computational tools and expertise with the EPSCoR team, further develop technologies with active academic participation, and connect University research and workforce development with industrial applications of low temperature plasma.
About CFD Research Corporation: Since its inception in 1987, CFDRC has worked with government agencies, businesses and academia to provide innovative solutions within the Aerospace & Defense, Biomedical & Life Sciences, and Energy & Materials industries. Over the years CFDRC has earned multiple national awards for successful application and commercialization of innovative component/system technology prototypes, multi-physics simulation software, multi-disciplinary analyses, and expert support services. CFDRC is an ISO9001:AS9100 registered company.
Contact:
Richard Thoms
Manager, Technology Partnerships
richard.thoms@cfdrc.com // 256.726.4810
