Material Measurement Laboratory

A picture of a keyboard with a key labelled "lexicon"

The NIST Bioeconomy Lexicon Aids Measurement of a Vital Industry Sector

NIST Supports Transition to a Circular Economy

Standard Reference Material for Cigarette Tobacco Filler (SRM 3222)

About the Material Measurement Laboratory

The NIST Material Measurement Laboratory (MML) conducts measurement science research to benefit industries based in the chemical, biological, and material sciences, and contributes technical expertise to the development of standards. MML researchers perform fundamental and applied research, evaluate data, and create other programs and tools to assure the quality of measurement results.

Our work supports areas of national importance:

We contribute to the development of new vaccines and biologic drugs
Characterize the performance of alternative fuels and refrigerants with less greenhouse gas potential
Assess pollutants including ocean plastics
Help develop new materials for lightweight, fuel efficient transportation, and much more.

Projects & Programs

PhaseSeparation-predictions in Mo(S,Te)2 on Bulk

Advanced Materials Design: Electronic and Functional Applications

Ongoing

Accelerating Materials Discovery using Machine Learning and AI Using machine learning and AI techniques along with high-throughput DFT calculations materials with specific properties are identified to accelerate the the discovery process for a variety of applications. Some of the specific materials

Characterization of Nano-to-Microscale Process-Induced Thermo-Mechanical Changes in Heterogeneously Integrated Microelectronics

Ongoing

Across the entire semiconductor industry, issues related to thermomechanical mismatches encountered during packaging are limiting factors in the design and fabrication of 3D modular integrated circuits. This project will develop novel and necessary metrologies for thermomechanical properties of

Chain orientation of polyethylene by polarization BCARS

3D Molecular Orientation Imaging

Ongoing

We have developed 3D orientation measurement techniques by analyzing polarization-dependent molecular vibrational signals based on infrared (IR) absorption [1,2] and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) [3]. The two imaging modalities are complementary to each other: IR imaging broadly

News & Updates

A black and white image of the aluminum alloy under a microscope. Most of the image is light grey, but there are many small black spots that have lines extending out from them like cracks.

Rare Crystal Shape Found to Increase the Strength of 3D-Printed Metal

April 7, 2025

NIST researchers have found special atomic patterns called quasicrystals in 3D-printed aluminum alloys.

Assuring the Accuracy of Metabolite Measurement and Identification

March 18, 2025

This reference material is intended to be used as quality assurance/quality control material for laboratory metabolomic measurements. Products of metabolism act

NIST Releases Reference Material to Aid Gut Microbiome Research

March 17, 2025

Researchers hope this material will help usher in a new era of diagnostics and treatments involving the gut microbiome.

Events

Conceptual illustration of cells, a flow cytometry stream, automation and collaboration with logos for NIST and NIAID underneath.

AI and Flow Cytometry Workshop

Mon, Jun 9 - Tue, Jun 10 2025

A NIST–FDA–NIAID Co-Organized Workshop This workshop aims to advance AI/ML applications in flow cytometry and related

Needs and Research Gaps Surrounding Safe Handling of Synthetic Opioids and Other Emerging Compounds of Concern

Mon, Jun 9 2025

As part of NIST's response to the 2023 TRANQ Research Act, we have started a series of workshop to better understand the

Towards Increased Data Sharing and Standardization for Illicit Drug Analysis and Monitoring

Wed, Jun 11 - Thu, Jun 12 2025

As part of NIST's response to the 2023 TRANQ Research Act, we have started a series of workshop to better understand the

Publications

Encoding PGAA Spectra as Images for Material Classification with Convolutional Neural Networks

May 27, 2025

Author(s)

Nathan Mahynski, David Sheen, Rick Paul, Huaiyu Chen-Mayer, Vincent Shen

We trained deep convolutional neural networks (CNN) to classify a material based on its prompt gamma ray activation analysis (PGAA) spectrum. We focused on two

New perspectives on THCA decarboxylation and accurate GC–MS quantitation of Total THC in Cannabis using analyte protectants

May 22, 2025

Author(s)

Jerome Mulloor, Walter Wilson, Lane Sander

Forensic and commercial laboratories rely on well-characterized analytical methods to accurately determine total tetrahydrocannabinol (total THC), which is the

NIST Special Publication 260 NIST.SP.260-256 Certification of Standard Reference Material®s 3672a & 3673a: Organic Contaminants in Smokers' Urine (Frozen) & Organic Contaminants in Non-Smokers' Urine (Frozen)

May 14, 2025

Author(s)

Ashley Russell, Carolyn Burdette, Johanna Camara, Nathanael Heckert, Jennifer Hoguet, Kevin Huncik, Jared Ragland, Elena Wood

Standard Reference Material (SRM) 3672a Organic Contaminants in Smokers' Urine (Frozen) and SRM 3673a Organic Contaminants in Non-Smokers' Urine (Frozen) are

Awards

Woman standing in office with long wavy blonde hair, glassses, and a closed mouth smile. She is wearing a a gray cardigan over a black with white dots shirt.

2025 - Letters to a Pre-Scientist Award---Sierra Miller

Letters to a Pre-Scientist (LPS) connects students to STEM professionals through snail mail to broaden students ’ awareness of what STEM

2025 - Federal Laboratory Consortium Impact Award---RaDAR Program

The RaDAR Program provides comprehensive drug testing data to 13 states and territories across the U.S. In total, more than 10,000 samples

A woman with medium length grey hair wearing a striped shirt, standing outside, holding an award.

2025 - TMS Fellow Award---Ursula Kattner

The TMS Fellow Award is presented to The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) members who have made outstanding contributions to the

Press Coverage

Hrabe Interviewed by AmericaMakes for TCT Magazine Article on Additive Manufacturing

TCT Magazine

August 5, 2024

Nik Hrabe of the Applied Chemicals and Materials Division was recently interviewed by AmericaMakes for their TCT Magazine.

Two men in suits stand behind a display table displaying a laptop and a low cost materials science robot.

NIST Staff Demonstrate Low-Cost Self-Driving Lab at U.S. Senate Robotics Showcase on Capitol Hill

Maryland Energy Innovation Institute

April 30, 2024

Senate Robotics Demo Day: On April 30, 2024, scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology Material Measurement Laboratory, in

Setting Standards for Stool

January 19, 2024

Microbiome studies have yielded hundreds of ideas for ways to detect and influence human health, but the field struggles with reproducibility...

Material Measurement Laboratory

About the Material Measurement Laboratory

Our work supports areas of national importance:

Projects & Programs

Advanced Materials Design: Electronic and Functional Applications

Characterization of Nano-to-Microscale Process-Induced Thermo-Mechanical Changes in Heterogeneously Integrated Microelectronics

3D Molecular Orientation Imaging

News & Updates

Rare Crystal Shape Found to Increase the Strength of 3D-Printed Metal

Assuring the Accuracy of Metabolite Measurement and Identification

NIST Releases Reference Material to Aid Gut Microbiome Research

Events

AI and Flow Cytometry Workshop

Needs and Research Gaps Surrounding Safe Handling of Synthetic Opioids and Other Emerging Compounds of Concern

Towards Increased Data Sharing and Standardization for Illicit Drug Analysis and Monitoring

Publications

Encoding PGAA Spectra as Images for Material Classification with Convolutional Neural Networks

New perspectives on THCA decarboxylation and accurate GC–MS quantitation of Total THC in Cannabis using analyte protectants

NIST Special Publication 260 NIST.SP.260-256 Certification of Standard Reference Material®s 3672a & 3673a: Organic Contaminants in Smokers' Urine (Frozen) & Organic Contaminants in Non-Smokers' Urine (Frozen)

Awards

2025 - Letters to a Pre-Scientist Award---Sierra Miller

2025 - Federal Laboratory Consortium Impact Award---RaDAR Program

2025 - TMS Fellow Award---Ursula Kattner

Press Coverage

Hrabe Interviewed by AmericaMakes for TCT Magazine Article on Additive Manufacturing

NIST Staff Demonstrate Low-Cost Self-Driving Lab at U.S. Senate Robotics Showcase on Capitol Hill

Setting Standards for Stool

Blog Posts

Speeding Up the Wheels of Justice: How NIST Resources Can Help Crime Labs Work Faster

Can Nanotechnology Help Solve Climate Change?

Sinking Our Teeth Into Science: How Biomedical Engineering Can Help Make Us Healthier

Contacts

GENERAL INFORMATION: 301-975-8300 (PHONE); [email protected]; 100 BUREAU DRIVE, M/S 8300, GAITHERSBURG, MD 20899-8300