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)

Welcome to 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.

News and Updates

A close-up of a virus particle shows spikes protruding from the particle's surface and blobby sugars that cling to the spikes.

New NIST Method Can Better Identify Sneaky Sugars on Viruses’ Spiky Weapons

September 28, 2023

A better picture of the sugars can increase our understanding of how humans get infected by the virus behind COVID-19 and other pathogens.

Woman in safety glasses stands next to an enclosed space with scientific equipment inside.

Spotlight: Postdoctoral Researcher Ana Morales and the Nanoscale Plastics Pervading Our World

September 21, 2023

Nanoplastics are shedding from places you might not expect, including single-use coffee cups and laundry.

Four small dark glass ampules stand on a lab table, market with skull and crossbones danger icons.

NIST Researchers Develop Standards to Help Eliminate ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Firefighting Foams

September 18, 2023

These foams contain chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that have raised environmental and health concerns.

Pieces of salmon are being fed from a metal holder into the icy opening of a milling machine.

NIST’s Shrimp and Salmon Reference Materials Could Help Combat Seafood Fraud

September 8, 2023

Seafood fraud can happen when fish is incorrectly labeled for consumers as a more expensive variety.

Events

Supporting The Standardization of Seaweed Measurements

Tue, Oct 24 2023, 9:00am - 1:00pm EDT

In support of the NIST Dietary Supplement Laboratory Quality Assurance Program (DSQAP) Exercise 1 seaweed collaboration

Facilitating a Circular Economy for Food and Biomass

Tue, Dec 5 - Thu, Dec 7 2023

NIST’s Circular Economy Program is supporting the nation’s transition from a linear economic model to a cyclical one

Quantum Matters in Materials Science Workshop

Wed, Feb 21 - Thu, Feb 22 2024

As a part of the JARVIS workshops series, NIST is organizing the 3rd Quantum Matters in Materials Science (QMMS)

Projects and Programs

Biomanufacturing Initiative

Ongoing

Protein drugs are the top selling pharmaceuticals worldwide, a hundred billion dollar industry, but also the fastest growing category of health care costs. The

Plastic Pollution Measurement Science

Ongoing

While plastics have yielded immense benefits to society, discarded plastics or plastic pollution has become a pervasive highly visible problem especially in the

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Ongoing

NIST works to improve confidence in measurements and conducts research on PFAS for better human health and the environment.

photo collage of meats, cheese, eggs, fish, and shellfish

NIST Food Safety Program

Ongoing

A multi-disciplinary team is helping to ensure food safety and authenticity.

NIST Tools for Cannabis Laboratory Quality Assurance

Ongoing

NIST has developed an integrated measurement services program for forensic and cannabis testing laboratories to help ensure the quality of routine analysis

Automotive Lightweighting

Ongoing

Our objective is to support the efforts of the US automotive industry and its suppliers to incorporate advanced lightweight materials for improving fuel economy

Developing a Materials Innovation Infrastructure

Ongoing

Develop a materials innovation infrastructure for the design and discovery of inorganic materials to reduce the time and cost for deploying new materials into

View All Projects/Programs

Awards

Jake Benzing wears safety glasses as he bends over to adjust piece of scientific equipment in the lab.

2023 - ASTM AM CoE Young Professional in Additive Manufacturing Award---Jake Benzing

Jake Benzing of the NIST Material Measurement Laboratory Applied Chemicals and Materials Division Fatigue and Fracture Group is a 2023

2019 - Best Paper---Bell, Domanski, Linteris, and McLinden

This collaboration between the Applied Chemicals and Materials Division of the NIST Material Measurement Laboratory (MML) and the Building

Ursula Kattner and guest pose for a photo with her Gibbs Triangle Award in front of the water.

2023 - Gibbs Triangle Award---Ursula Kattner

Ursula Kattner of the NIST Material Measurement Laboratory Materials Science and Engineering Division is the 2023 recipient of the Gibbs

Word collage (reference materials, QC tools, repeatability, compatibility, reproducibility, etc. over top of small jar

2023 - Best Review Award Published in 2022---Clay Davis, Goncalo Gouveia, Christina Jones, Katrice Lippa, and Tracey Schock

" Reference Materials for MS-based Untargeted Metabolomics and Lipidomics: A Review by the Metabolomics Quality Assurance and Quality

Press Coverage

Dr. Alshae' Logan-Jackson, a Microbiologist uses #WomensHistoryMonth to reflect on the women in history who played an important role in the quality of all our lives today.

Instagram: Department of Commerce

March 24, 2023

Alshae’ Logan’s thoughts on Women’s History contributions were shared with the DOC community for Women’s History Month.

The World Depends on a Strange Collection of Items. They're Not Cheap

Veritasium YouTube Channel

November 19, 2022

Steven Choquette, Benjamin Place, and Johanna Camara talk about the world of Standard Reference Materials.

Keeping up America’s standards is the job of NIST

The Economist

August 17, 2022

Melissa Phillips and NIST collaborators explain why NIST reference materials are so important to industry, monitoring environmental and human health, and much

Four images in a grid show increasingly larger plastic particles.

Getting a grip on microplastics’ risks

C&EN

May 27, 2022

NIST's Christopher Zangmeister discusses his team's work exploring plastic nanoparticles released by food-preserving film and coffee cups.

Material Measurement Laboratory

Welcome to the Material Measurement Laboratory

News and Updates

New NIST Method Can Better Identify Sneaky Sugars on Viruses’ Spiky Weapons

Spotlight: Postdoctoral Researcher Ana Morales and the Nanoscale Plastics Pervading Our World

NIST Researchers Develop Standards to Help Eliminate ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Firefighting Foams

NIST’s Shrimp and Salmon Reference Materials Could Help Combat Seafood Fraud

Events

Supporting The Standardization of Seaweed Measurements

Facilitating a Circular Economy for Food and Biomass

Quantum Matters in Materials Science Workshop

Projects and Programs

Biomanufacturing Initiative

Plastic Pollution Measurement Science

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

NIST Food Safety Program

NIST Tools for Cannabis Laboratory Quality Assurance

Automotive Lightweighting

Developing a Materials Innovation Infrastructure

Awards

2023 - ASTM AM CoE Young Professional in Additive Manufacturing Award---Jake Benzing

2019 - Best Paper---Bell, Domanski, Linteris, and McLinden

2023 - Gibbs Triangle Award---Ursula Kattner

2023 - Best Review Award Published in 2022---Clay Davis, Goncalo Gouveia, Christina Jones, Katrice Lippa, and Tracey Schock

Press Coverage

Dr. Alshae' Logan-Jackson, a Microbiologist uses #WomensHistoryMonth to reflect on the women in history who played an important role in the quality of all our lives today.

The World Depends on a Strange Collection of Items. They're Not Cheap

Keeping up America’s standards is the job of NIST

Getting a grip on microplastics’ risks

Contacts

GENERAL INFORMATION: 301-975-8300 (PHONE); MMLINFO@NIST.GOV; 100 BUREAU DRIVE, M/S 8300, GAITHERSBURG, MD 20899-8300

MML ACTING DIRECTOR