Development of a Reslient North Carolina Hemp Fiber Supply Chain for Biocomposites
Project Snapshot
| Activity Lead: | Roger Tipton |
| Lead Institute: | |
| Partners: | |
| Tags: | Resilient Materials , Advanced Materials |
Research Goal
Create the possibilty for development of composites from nature-based materials by connecting suppliers along the value chain in North Carolina in order to be able produce at large scale.
Project Description
Connect with supply chain and industry partners in the development of innovative biocomposites with cellulosics, namely hemp, at scale in the North Carolina region.
Impact
This work addresses the need for resilient alternatives to traditional materials like fiberglass and plastic, which are known to contribute to extreme weather, and support local farmers and suppliers by developing a stable supply chain.
Project Progress
Project Outputs
Discover the tangible outcomes and impact of this project.
Roger Tipton
UNC Charlotte
Research Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science, UNC Charlotte
At the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Roger Tipton leads the Performance Materials Lab (PML), where his research in composite, polymer, and advanced materials extends into a question the field often leaves aside: what happens to materials when their useful life ends?
This focus also drives research into clean water solutions, alongside work developing materials with improved performance and reduced environmental impact. Tipton is a NASA Fellow and award-winning researcher in advanced materials and manufacturing.
He brings more than two decades of experience as a scientist, entrepreneur, and investor to his role at UNC Charlotte. He has founded several companies and worked with industry partners internationally, with a practical understanding of how materials science moves from research to market. That experience shapes both his research agenda and his approach to teaching within the PML.
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, University of South Florida
- Master of Science (MS), Materials Science, University of South Florida
- Bachelor of Science (BS), Materials Science and Engineering, The Ohio State University
