Seeing U at SLCC

 Among the noise of breaking fibers and the cheers from the audience, the University of Utah Materials Science and Engineering students were learning key skills and lessons related to advanced composites. 

In a new partnership with the University of Utah, students were given the opportunity to take an Advanced Composites Technology workshop at the Salt Lake Community College Westpointe campus. Students were introduced to materials characterization and processing for various materials such as glass, ceramic and more. 

Program manager and instructor Zachary Ingrey demonstrates how to properly vacuum seal.

Claire Krammer, a junior in the Materials Science and Engineering program, found “the process of making composites is important for any material science application and the testing process.

Zachary Ingrey, advanced manufacturing program manager, is a graduate of the University of Utah’s Materials Science and Engineering program. Zachary also took the SLCC Intro to Composites class, while he was a student at The U, and was so impressed with the program he became an instructor. “As a student I wished I had some exposure to advanced composites.” After graduating and becoming the program manager Zach reached out to his former professors at The U and offered the lab to help integrate advanced composites into the science curriculum. “There are so many jobs locally that would like to see some composites experience,” Zachary elaborated. 

Assistant professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the U, Jeff Bates was excited about the lab space and project and agreed to team up. The project that Professor Bates was excited about was a bridge breaking competition. Students would form teams to design and construct a bridge then go head-to-head to see which bridge could support the most weight while sustaining the least amount of damage. The team’s bridge that won the competition could hold up to 4,021.2 kg or 8,864.788 lbs! 

A UofU student attaches industrial vacuum.

The composites industry, while not an emerging industry, is still rapidly growing and continuing to make milestone achievements. Here at SLCC, our curriculum is always developing to keep up with the demands of local industry. As Zachary points out, “the industry here is massive.” His hope is for other material science courses to collaborate with SLCC and utilize their lab space.

If you are interested in learning about advanced composites check out our 80-hour Introduction to Advanced Composites certificate. Funding may be available for Utah residents. 

Check out the students in the classroom and the results of their bridge competition!