Damon Smith

Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Universityof New Orleans, New Orleans.

Contact

+1-504-280-6167

dsmith3@uno.edu

Specialization

Nanoparticles, Nanocomposites, Advanced Materials for Additive Manufacturing.

Expertise

Enhancement of mechanical and physical properties of additive manufacturing materials through incorporation of multifunctional nanoparticle additives.

Education

University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, Physics, B.S. 2003;
University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, Applied Physics, M.S. 2005;
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, Materials Science and Engineering, Ph.D. 2009.

Research

Research in our group is concerned with the scalable, high-yield synthesis of nanoparticles and their assembly into new classes of fabrics, composites, and other macroscale materials. We are currently exploring the inclusion of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles within thermoplastic matrices to produce multifunctional nanocomposites compatible with extrusion, injection molding, and 3D printing processes. The understanding of how these manufacturing processes influence material structure at the nano-, micro-, and mesoscale and the characterization of the associated structure-property relationships is key to optimizing their performance. Applications of interest include biomedical devices and 3D electronics and optoelectronics.