The Institute for Metal Forming at Lehigh University is committed to excellence in research and education. Guided by Prof. Wojciech Misiolek, the Institute's main research objective is to conduct cross-disciplinary process engineering studies to better understand and control forming and processing techniques and their impact on the microstructural response of a material.

Classical metal forming research has been expanded to involve projects in metal powder processing, metal machining, microstructure analysis and characterization, and forming of polymers and ceramics, with emphasis on both physical and numerical modeling of materials processing and optimization and microstructure development.

The IMF is intensely involved in graduate and undergraduate education and training for technical staff from industry. The cross-disciplinary nature of IMF research includes co-investigated projects with students and faculty from the departments of materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering and mechanics, chemical engineering, industrial and systems engineering, and physics at Lehigh and other universities. The Institute's steadily growing base of equipment and expertise facilitates academic- and industry-related research in fields including:

• Biomaterials
• Material Design
• Manufacturing
• Materials Modeling

International scientists and graduate students from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceana actively collaborate in research with the IMF.

The IMF receives the generous support of the Loewy Family Foundation, federal and state agencies, private foundations and trade organizations, and industrial companies.