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Guide to NIST

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Guide to NIST FOREWORD Welcome to the new NIST! Over the next few years, NIST plans to use requested funding increases to transform Since 1988 and passage of the Omnibus itself from primarily a measurement labora- Trade and Competitiveness Act, the National tory program with three relatively small Institute of Standards and Technology extramural programs to a full-service tech- (NIST) has been expanding its outreach nology development, funding, extension, efforts to industry. These have included and quality improvement partner for U.S. establishment of three relatively new extra- industry. To help get that job done, we have mural programs—the Advanced Technol- begun a major construction and renovation ogy' Program, providing direct grants to program to bring the Institute's laboratory industrv' for high-risk technolog}' develop- facilities up to the needs of the 21st century ment; the Manufacturing Extension Partner- and beyond. ship, a grassroots technolog)' extension service; and the Malcolm Baldrige National You'll see the beginnings of this transfor- Qualit}' Award. The Institute also has sub- mation within this guide. We've included stantially increased the number of coopera- expanded descriptions of NIST extramural tive programs between industry' scientists programs, more comprehensive coverage of and engineers and NIST laboratory NIST laboratory projects and facilities, and researchers. more detailed guidance on the many differ- ent ways—both formal and informal—that Now we're gearing up for even bigger industrial and other organizations can work changes. The Clinton Administration has cooperatively with NIST. Also for the first made improved development, commerciali- time, the guide includes email addresses for zation, and adoption of new technology' by most NIST research contacts listed and infor- U.S. industry- a central element of its plan mation on electronic bulletin boards open for U.S. economic growth. NIST has a vital to use by the public. role to play in helping turn these plans into reality. We hope you'll use this guide to find the NIST programs, research projects, products, or services that best match your organiza- tion's needs. Then make the most of your federal tax dollars. Work with us to make all aspects of U.S. technology—from devel- opment to commercialization to adoption by manufacturers—the envy of the world. Arati Prabhakar, Director email: [email protected] — NIST AT A GLANCE The National Institute of Standards and • a rigorously competitive Advanced Tech- BUDGET Technology was established by Congress "to nology Program providing cost-shared $609 million assist industry in the development of tech- grants to industry for development of high- (FY 94 estimated operating resources from all nology ... needed to improve product qual- risk technologies with significant commer- sources) ity, to modernize manufacturing processes, cial potential; STAFF to ensure product reliability ... to facili- and About scientists, engineers, techni- • a grassroots Manufacturing Extension 3,200 tate rapid commercialization ... of products cians, and support personnel, Partnership helping small and medium- plus some based new scientific discoveries." on 1,200 visiting researchers year sized companies adopt new technologies; each hn agency of the U.S. Department of Com- SITES • a strong laboratory effort planned and merce's Technology Administration, NIST's Gaithersburg, Md. (headquarters implemented in cooperation with industry primary mission is to promote U.S. eco- 234-hectare campus) and and focused on measurements, standards, nomic growth by working with industry to Boulder, Colo. (84-hectare campus) evaluated data, and test methods; and develop and apply technology, measure- MAIN RESEARCH AREAS IN NIST ments, and standards. It carries out this • a highly visible quality outreach pro- LABORATORIES mission through a portfolio of four major gram associated with the Malcolm Baldrige Electronics and electrical engineering programs: National Quality Award. Manufacturing engineering Chemical science and technology Physics Materials science and engineering Building and fire research Computer systems Computing and applied mathematics CONTENTS 4 How To Use This Guide 5 What NISTHasTo Offer 10 Advanced Technology Program 13 IVIanufacturIng Extension Partnership 15 IVIalcolm Baldrige National Quality Award 16 Laboratory Programs 16 Technology Services 22 Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory 38 Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory 46 Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory 63 Physics Laboratory 745 76 Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory 93 Building and Fire Research Laboratory 102 Computer Systems Laboratory 109 Computing and Applied Mathematics Laboratory 113 Facilities Index 113 Subject Index HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE Finding who or wliat you need within a fed- This guide is divided into chapters covering This guide attempts to include all major eral agency can be a daunting task. This each of NIST's major operating units. NIST program areas. However, no single guide is designed to make finding out about In addition, each chapter on laboratory report can be completely comprehensive. programs and contacts at the National Insti- research programs includes subheadings Institute programs change constantly as tute of Standards and Technology a little for NIST organizational divisions. new research results and technologies easier. become available. If you don't find a topic A detailed subject index is included on area that specifically matches your needs, NIST researchers actively seek out industrial pages 113 to ll6. Due to the interdiscipli- contact the division office for the research and other collaborators to work on well- naiy nature of NIST's work, many topic area closest to your field of interest. Phone defined, cooperative research projects of areas appear in more than one chapter. For numbers, fax numbers, and electronic mail mutual interest. In addition, NIST example, research involving polymers is addresses for division contacts are provided researchers collaborate informally with described in different chapters: polymer within each chapter. industrial and academic researchers to solve processing and structure investigations shorter-term technical problems. For an within the Materials Science and Engineer- If you review this guide and you're still not ovei'view of the many different ways NIST ing Laboratory and polymer combustion sure which office to call, the NIST Publica- may be able to help your organization, studies within the Building and Fire tions and Program Inquiries Unit can prob- see "What NIST Has to Offer" on page 5. Research Laboratory. ably help you. Contact: Publications and Program Inquiries Unit, (301) 975-3058. The pages that follow describe more than 250 NIST research projects, grants and industiy outreach programs, sei^ices, and facilities, followed by contact names, phone numbers, and mail and electronic mail (Internet) addresses for further informa- tion. Unless otherwise noted, all addresses listed are at NIST, Gaithersburg, Md. 20899-0001. WHAT NIST HAS TO OFFER The most common types of arrangements and Boulder, Colo., laboratories. Contact: Advanced include: domestic guest researchers, (301) 975-3084; Technology Program international guest researchers, Cooperative Research and Development (301) 975-4119. This program provides multiyear funding Agreements (CRADAs) Typically cover joint research efforts in for high-risk, high-payoff, civihan technol- Research and Development Contracts which both NIST and the cooperating com- og)' development by individual companies Used when external organizations contract pany provide staff, equipment, facilities, or industry-led joint ventures. See descrip- with NIST researchers to receive specific and/or funds, in any number of possible tion on page 10. technical services or results uniquely avail- combinations, for a project of mutual able at the Institute. The cooperating interest. NIST is currently working with organization funds the NIST effort on a cost- Manufacturing more than 200 research partners on nearly reimbursable basis. Individual contracts Extension Partnership 250 CRADAs in 16O different areas of may provide protection of proprietary infor- research. Ninety-five percent of NIST's mation under certain circumstances. This program provides funding for region- CRADA partners are U.S. businesses, with ally based extension centers that help small Research results are made publicly avail- about equal numbers from large and small and medium-sized businesses adopt modern able, and any intellectual property rights companies. technologies. MEP also provides matching revert to NIST. joint grants for state-based technology extension When companies conduct research Preparation of contracts for such agree- with the Institute under a can efforts and develops linkages between fed- CRADA, NIST ments typically takes about 4 weeks. protect confidential or proprietary eral, state, local, and other technology informa- tion the project, extension efforts. See description on exchanged during keep Informal Collaborations results confidential, and provide Informal one-to-one collaborations between page 13. research exclusive rights for intellectual property Institute and other researchers. Such col- developed during the course of the project. laborations often involve exchange of Collaborative Research Each CRADA is negotiated separately be- research results and/or samples between tween NIST and prospective partners. Most NIST and other researchers,
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