Jonathan S. Colton
Professor
Education
- Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1986
- S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1982
- S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1981
Research Areas and Descriptors
- Manufacturing and Tribology; Manufacturing, polymer/composites processing, rapid prototyping, and nano/microfabrication
Background
Joined Georgia Tech in November 1985 as an Assistant Professor
Research
Advanced polymers and their composites (combinations of reinforcments in a polymer matrix) are extremely lightweight and strong. They provide the potential for greatly reducing the weight and size of structures (bridges and automobiles) and commercial products (baseball bats, tennis racquets), thereby improving their performance and efficiency. Research at Tech focuses on developing novel material forms and processing techniques, both of which are being studied from both theoretical and experimental points. Nano- and micro-technologies, including MEMS, have made great strides in designing and producing miniature devices, such as pumps, turbines, valves, jets, fiber-optic connectors, micro-optics, gears and transmissions, mechanisms, biomedical devices (catheter-based surgery, microneedles, catheter tips), and sensors. These devices have dimensions on the order of 10s to 100s of microns with features that may have dimensions orders of magnitude less. Many of the microdevices devices can or should be made using polymers to be most useful in their intended applications. Research in this area is focused on efficient and economic mass production manufacturing techniques, such as nano- and micro-molding. MEMS parts are being modeled using finite element techniques, and a nanomolding machine is used to make parts and test the models. Mold making techniques also are being studied and developed.
Metamaterials are a new class of engineered nanocomposites. Due to new "smallscale" physics associated with their engineering, metamaterials exhibit superior properties and enhanced performance. Research in this area is focussed on the development of the tools and techniques to design, model, and produce functionally graded metamaterials at minute scales. For example, one might wish a composite part to have a large amount of filler on its surface for strength, and a small amount of filler in its interior. It is quite a challenge to accurately distribute submicron sized filler particles and fibers over micronscale distances.
Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing is an allied area of research, centered around the use of rapid prototyped polymer molds (stereolithography) for injection molding. This work studies the materials used for molds to determine their capabilities, as well as the properties of the parts produced. The mechanical and thermal strains on the molds and parts are being modeled with finite element methods.
Future directions are to further develop research in nano/micromolding and in metamaterials, with the goal being able to design, model, produce and fabricate "materials-to-order."
Distinctions
- Woodruff School Jack M. Zeigler Outstanding Educator Award, 2007
- Society of Plastics Engineers Fellow, 2004
- MCB University Press Award for Most Outstanding Paper in the 1999 Volume of the Rapid Prototyping Journal, 2000
- Sigma Xi (Georgia Tech Chapter) Best Master's Thesis Award (Advisor to Anne Palmer), 2000
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers Fellow, 1999
- Woodruff School Faculty Fellow, 1992-1997
- Society of Automotive Engineers Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award, 1992
- National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator Award, 1989-1994
- Society of Manufacturing Engineers Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer, 1988
- American Society for Engineering Education New Engineering Educator, 1986
- National Bureau of Standards Certificate of Recognition for Sustained Superior Performance, 1979
- Registered Professional Engineer in Georgia
Selected Patents
- Collapsible Footstool, U. S. Patent 6,036,269, March 14, 2000
- Flexible Multiply Towpreg Tape from Powder Fusion Coated Towpreg, U. S. Patent 5,409,757, with J. D. Muzzy, April 25, 1995
Representative Publications
- C. Marrett, et al. 2003. Flexible Polymer Composite Electromagnetic Crystals. Polymer Engineering and Science 43(4), 822-830.
- B. Rodeheaver and J. S. Colton. 2001. Open-Celled Thermoplastic Microcellular Foam. Polymer Engineering and Science 41, 380-400.
- L. A. Dixon and J. S. Colton. 2000. A Process Management Strategy for Re-design: An Anchoring and Adjustment Approach. Journal of Engineering Design 11, 159-173.
- R. W. Beck and J. S. Colton. 1998. Mechanical Properties of Parts Manufactured from Prestaged Thermosetting Towpreg. Polymer Composites 19, 724-731.
- J. S. Colton and J. D. Muzzy. 1997. The Processing Science of Thermoplastic Composites. Chapter 3 in Advanced Composites Manufacturing, T. G. Gutowski (editor). Wiley-Interscience, New York, 81-114.
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