Principal investigator: Joshua Stapleton
University: Pennsylvania State University
Industry partners: AGC Chemicals America, Inc.
AGC Chemicals Americas (AGCCA) and Penn State’s Materials Characterization Laboratory (MCL) will collaborate to understand how the structure of AGCCA’s RESIFA™ micro-spherical silica gels influences their performance across a range of applications. The project will generate a comprehensive structure-property-performance atlas by measuring particle morphology, porosity, and surface chemistry that will lead to a deeper understanding of the material properties that drive product performance. A PMFI fellow will receive hands-on training on advanced instrumentation, contribute to all phases of the project, and be positioned for a follow-on internship at AGCCA in Summer 2027. An AGCCA technician will also train at MCL, gaining new analytical capabilities and bringing expanded technical expertise back to AGCCA’s laboratories. By combining advanced characterization with workforce development, the project will strengthen AGCCA’s ability to optimize RESIFA™ products and support expansion into high-growth markets such as carbon capture and catalyst support.