Producers, processors and users of synthetic polymers use
polymer standards for calibration of instruments, assessment
of laboratory proficiency, test method development and materials
improvement. NIST assists in the standards process by providing
standard reference materials(SRM), reference materials(RM) and
reference data.
Objective
Activities include recertifying SRMs and RMs as stock is depleted,
determining opportunities for production of new SRMs and RMs,
producing new SRMs and RMs and building databases of relevant
data pertaining to SRMs and RMs. Previous NIST/Industry workshops
identified needs for reference materials and relevant data pertaining
to polymers used in intraocular lenses (IOL) and in tissue engineered
medical products. In addition, a discontinued NIST SRM is being
reissued for use in measurements of branching in polyolefins.
NIST’s Role
Standard Reference Materials and Reference Materials play
pivotal roles in assuring the integrity of the Nation’s
physical, chemical and biological measurement systems.
Develop reference database on properties of biomaterials
NIST reference data are benchmarks in the development of new
materials and their applications.
NIST has a national mandate to produce measurement standards
Outreach
Leadership in ASTM activity to develop reference scaffolds
for tissue engineering applications.
Coordination of activities to identify suitable scaffold types
for initial reference materials.
Participation with University of Louisiana Eye Institute and
Polymer Technology Group in development of reference IOL materials
Participation in NIBIB Biomaterials Implant Science Coordinating
Committee (includes: NIH, FDA and NIST) that identifies measurement
issues in medical implants, including biomaterials and tissue
engineered medical devices.
Facilitate articles on Polymers Division biomaterials measurement
research to Biomaterials FORUM .
Interviewed by NPR on role of reference scaffolds in development
of tissue engineering products.
Customers and Impact
Customers: producers, processors and users of synthetic polymers,
analytical laboratories, and standards developing organizations.
Customers purchase SRMs and RMs to assure quality of their measurements,
for comparisons in the development of new materials and measurement
methods.
Contributors:
Project Leader: Bruno Fanconi
Reference Biomaterials: John Tesk
SRM 1476a: Charles Guttman, Kathleen Flynn William Blair, John Maurey
Characterization and Measurement Group
Polymers Division
Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory
