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Material Measurement Laboratory

MML conducts measurement science across the chemical, biological and material sciences. Activities range from fundamental and applied research to the development and dissemination of certified reference materials and data to industry, academia, and other government agencies to assure the quality of measurement results.

A picture of a keyboard with a key labelled "lexicon"
The NIST Bioeconomy Lexicon Helps Measure a Vital Industry Sector
Circular economy at NIST no text
NIST Supports Transition to a Circular Economy
Standard Reference Material for Cigarette Tobacco Filler (SRM 3222)
What is a Standard Reference Material?

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

Industry Impacts

artsy photo of a concrete wall at Bronx Comunity College

Cement

Cement is the core ingredient in concrete, the most widely used building material in the world. It plays an integral role in infrastructure such as buildings
Gas pipeline crossing the hills, south San Francisco bay, San Jose, California

Pipeline Safety

More than 2.5 million miles of natural gas, liquid petroleum and hydrogen pipelines cross the United States. This infrastructure is critical to our energy needs
refrigerants

Low GHG Refrigerants

Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants are potent greenhouse gases (GHG) that are being phased down by the U.S. and 196 other countries under the Montreal

Projects and Programs

Bioman lifecycle

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 marine debris

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

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
View All Projects/Programs

Awards

Press Coverage

Contacts

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

MML DIRECTOR