Extreme Processing and Interfacial Complexion Lab
The EPIC (Extreme Processing and Interfacial Complexion) Research Lab, led by Dr. Marvel, studies how grain boundaries and interfaces control the performance
of metals and ceramics. Through advanced techniques such as high-energy ball milling,
scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and atmospheric plasma spraying,
the lab investigates phase transformations, interfacial diffusion, and microstructural
evolution. This research supports the development of high-performance alloys and corrosion-resistant
coatings for defense, aerospace, and petrochemical applications.
2025 - 2026 EPIC team
Research & Development Areas
For an exclusive look into the EPIC lab experience, please check out the LSU blog post about our research efforts (click here).
The EPIC Research Group is comprised of three complementary laboratories: Thermal Spray, Powder Metallurgy, and Ceramics. Each subgroup maintains a unique set of equipment and research focus, creating a collaborative environment where students gain hands-on experience while learning across disciplines.
The EPIC Lab’s thermal spray research focuses on the development and optimization of advanced protective coatings for enhanced wear, corrosion, and environmental resistance. Using atmospheric plasma spraying (APS), the lab investigates how processing parameters influence coating microstructure, density, adhesion, and mechanical performance.
The EPIC Lab’s powder metallurgy research focuses on the synthesis, processing, and performance optimization of advanced metallic and reactive materials. Using high-energy ball milling, controlled atmosphere processing, and thermal and mechanical characterization, the lab investigates how powder processing conditions influence phase transformations, microstructure, and material properties.
The EPIC Lab’s ceramics research focuses on understanding and controlling densification, grain growth, phase evolution, and interfacial transport in advanced ceramic materials. Emphasis is placed on grain boundary and interface behavior, diffusion mechanisms, and thermal stability to enable the design of ceramics with tailored mechanical, thermal, and transport performance for extreme environments.
Industry Contributions
The EPIC Lab is a part of CISIA. CISIA helps infrastructure, oil and gas, aerospace, marine and maritime, construction, advanced manufacturing, chemical, petrochemical, and energy processing industries and their providers lessen the financial and human impacts of mechanical and structural failure through advanced technology development in monitoring, prediction, characterization, and testing.
Our Thermal Spray team is proud to lead Project 9: Development of Durable Coating Materials and Systems for CISIA.