Lightweight Materials are one of the focus areas of the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Advanced Materials (IRC-AM). The research and development of lightweight materials at IRC-AM includes; designing, processing, characterization, and performance evaluation for various applications. 

The research focus includes the development of advanced lightweight materials (Al, Mg, Ti alloys, biomaterials, and metal matrix nanocomposites), plastics, fiber-reinforced polymer composites, glass fiber reinforced polymer composites, joining of similar and dissimilar lightweight materials, and corrosion prevention solutions to the lightweight materials.

Some of the common applications of lightweight materials interests at IRC-AM include lightweight automotive parts, biomedical implants, drones, aerospace components. The center is devoted to the following challenges and goals: 

• Reduce materials degradation (corrosion and wear) and failures
  • Expand the working parameters of polymer composites to pipelines in harsh environments.
    • Substitute conventional materials with hydrocarbon-based materials.
    • Reduce fuel consumption and emission by reducing vehicles weight.
    • Lower the cost of expensive composites (fiber-reinforced polymer composites).
    • Enhance degradability of materials for recycling and waste management.