Polymers, composites, ceramics, metals, and nanostructured materials

Our expertise to develop solutions tailored to companies’ needs

Advanced Materials and Applications for Nautical Engineering Unit

• Structural simulation: finite element analysis for structural dimensioning; non-linear analyses for composite materials used in nautical applications; development of models describing the behaviour of polymer-matrix composite materials.
• Structural integrity and quality assessment: strain gauge measurements; ultrasonic testing for the detection of defects in composite materials, such as delaminations, fibre compaction issues, non-uniform mechanical properties, and possible inclusions of foreign materials.

Advanced Materials for Design and Photonic Applications Unit

• Polymer technologies, membranes and packaging: synthesis, modification and characterization of traditional or innovative polymers; production of copolymers and extrusion of polymer nanocomposites; sol–gel and plasma processes for surface functionalization; extrusion, electrospinning, laser welding, foaming and moulding processes for polymeric materials; characterization of microstructural, morphological, thermal, electrical, viscoelastic, rheological and barrier properties; durability, reliability and life-cycle analysis of polymeric materials and products.
• Metallurgy and technologies of metallic materials: innovative processes for the development of alloys and metallic materials with advanced properties; innovative techniques for the production of ceramic and intermetallic materials and components; protective coatings for applications in aggressive environments and/or at high temperatures; metal- or ceramic-matrix composite materials reinforced with metallic or ceramic phases; mechanical, microstructural and technological characterization.
• Microstructural, mechanical and corrosion characterization of metal-matrix composite materials.
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology.

Structured and/or Composite Materials for Advanced Applications Unit

• Polyfunctional organic molecules: synthesis of advanced organic materials; production of nanostructured surfaces functionalized with polyfunctional organic molecules; organic materials for catalysis, electronics, nanomedicine and the development of new energy sources.
• Structured and nanostructured materials in chemical catalysis: development and characterization of materials for energy and environmental applications; analysis of the physical and chemical stability of catalytic materials at high temperatures.
• Recovery, recycling and production of polymers: development of polymeric materials and polymer-based composites; characterization of mechanical strength, physical, chemical, thermal and rheological properties; study of interfacial reactions and relative composition of polymeric materials; recovery and recycling of polymeric materials.
• Inorganic and electrochemical chemical synthesis: inorganic and electrochemical syntheses for the development of new materials; design and synthesis of nanostructured materials, metallic nanoparticles, conductive polymers and ceramics; physicochemical, spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization.

Virtual Prototyping and Experimental Modelling of Mechanical Systems Unit

• Materials physics: measurement of the elastic properties of materials and mechanical spectroscopy; measurement of gas–solid reactions.

Chemistry and Toxicology of Materials Unit

• Chemical characterization of materials and analysis of potentially toxic components: gas chromatography, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis; detection of volatile substances released from matrices using an electronic nose; shelf-life analysis of raw materials or finished products; identification of contamination, degradation and adulteration; verification of the release of potentially toxic or allergenic substances.
• Definition of the toxicological (or health-related) profile of new materials: use of validated and automatable in vitro assays to define the toxicological (or protective) profile of materials of interest (e.g., nanomaterials); study of the genotoxic properties of molecules