AATCC, the Association of Textile, Apparel, & Materials Professionals, announces the 2013 Materials Poster Competition, and invites students from around the globe studying materials science to participate.

The competition, developed by AATCC's Materials Interest Group, aims to promote innovative product development from a material structures design perspective. Submissions are invited from both graduate and undergraduate students. Entries will be evaluated on concept originality, research quality, clarity, and results.

Students who wish to participate are required to file a notice of intent to participate by February 11, 2013. Completed entries are due by March 29, 2013. Winners will be announced on June 7, 2013.

Below is a description of the focus areas for the contest:

Industrial/Technical/Sports Materials
The research poster should pertain to materials for technical and engineering applications.
Examples include:
• Composites
• Aircraft or automotive components
• Industrial and technical fabrics
• Architectural or geo-synthetic materials
• Industrial filters and advanced sporting equipment
• Sports performance fabrics

Medical/Biomedical/Protective Materials and Devices
The research poster should pertain to materials for use in either hazardous or medical environments. Posters submitted under this theme may involve active and/or reactive materials, such as self-detoxifying materials or reactive barrier membranes, which protect the wearer against chemical agents, biological agents, and projectiles/ improvised explosive devices.
Examples include:
• Chemical/biological protection garments and protection for
first responders or soldiers
• Artificial internal body implants such as soft prosthetic
devices (e.g., artificial arteries)
• Hard materials for bone replacements
• Externally protective medical gowns and masks

Functional/Smart/Nano-materials/Nanofibers
This poster should focus on the creation of structures that incorporate smart functionality to polymers and fibers. These materials could be used for computing, sensing, monitoring, imaging and/or broadcasting within the material to attain particular end uses.
Examples include:
• Novel energy storage
• Energy harvesting
• Camouflage/electromagnetic management
• Optical materials
• Anti-counterfeit materials
• Conducting polymers
• Wearable electronic garments
• Functional nano-materials and nanofibers
• Integrated materials for multifunctional assemblies

Winning entries in each category receive cash awards of US$1,000 for First Place and US$500 for Second Place. Winners will also receive complimentary student registrations for the 2013 AATCC International Conference.

AATCC is the world’s leading not-for-profit association serving textile professionals since 1921.