Advanced materials and Nanomaterials

Index

Advanced materials and Nanomaterials
Graphene and derivatives (GRM-Graphene and related materials)
Functional nanocompounds
Microencapsulation / Smart materials
Energy solutions based on PCMs

Advanced materials and Nanomaterials

Our main objective is the use of nanomaterials to develop new products and improve the performance of existing ones. Our challenge is to transfer and/or exploit the excellent and unique properties of nanomaterials in commercial products. Part of the work has focussed on the development of new compound/nanocompound materials (mainly of polymer marix and inorganic matrix as cement) with new improved made-to-measure and/or multifunctional performance.

In the field of graphene, in addition to its chemical synthesis at a laboratory scale work is being carried out on several applications for different sectors: compound materials, coatings, environmental cleanup systems, etc.

Graphene and derivatives (GRM-Graphene and related materials)

Description: Our prior experience in the manufacturing/development of graphene and its derivatives has given us specific knowledge with which we are able to intergrate nanomaterials in different solutions, taking into account their characacteristics and the medium in which they are to be integrated.

In the field of GRMs, the CTC has experience in the application of compound materials (electrical conductors, mechanical and thermal properties, the gas barrier effect, anti-corrosion coatings, resistance to fire) and environmental cleanup systems (water decontamination and the capturing of CO2 gas). In all these our main contribution is the integration, chemical modification, and development of GRMs for the optimum adaptation to the application, and the development of materials/applications on a pre-industrial scale.

Applications: Improvimg properties: electrical, mechanical, waterproofing, ultraviolet, resistance to fire, resin screening gamma radiation, spreading of flames

Safety in handling nanomaterials in the industry

Sectors: Compound materials, coatings, textiles

Functional nanocompounds

Description: In the field of functional compound/nanocompound materiales, the CTC focusses on the integration of loads/nanoloads in polymer and inorganic matrices (cements, paints, structural resins, elastomers, dyes…) for the development of new/improved functions/performance (electrical, mechanical, thermal, the screening of ionising radiations, abrasion, UV resistance, hydrophobicity…) in the source material, in addition to the development of prototypes at a pre-industrial scale. To this end it has skills and knowledge of:

Advanced dispersion processes
Chemical functioning of the nanomaterials
Capacity of anchoring functional groups (molecules) / nanoparticles / substances active on the surface area of the nanomaterials so as to:
- Facilitate dispersion in the medium in which they are introduced (compatibility with the “medium”).
- Increasing fixing/interaction to the substratum where they are deposited (e.g. fabric, coating…).
- New and/or improved functions/performance regarding the nanomaterial (e.g. molecule adsorption, catalisis, hidrophobicity, etc.)

Sectors: Compound materials (composites)

Microencapsulation / Smart materials

Description: Microencapsulation is the process of coating an active substance with a thin layer of another material. We talk of microcapsules when the diameters of the particles are between 1 and 1000 μm. This process is of great interest in sectors such as pharmaceutics, foodstuffs, pigments/loads in compound materials, and coatings.

Microencapsulation processes allow:

Protecting the active substance from the environment
Freeing the active substance from external stimulii in a controlled manner (smart materials)
Avoiding undesired chemical reactions between the matrix where the microcapsule is integrated and the active substance.

Various methodologies exist for the development of microcapsules such as physical and chemical methods (interfacial polymerisation, coacervation, spray drying…).

At the CTC we have experience and knowledge of the processes of the microencapsulation of active substances orientated towards coatings and compound materials. The technologies habitually used are interfacial polymerisation and spray drying.

Sector: Compound materials (composites), coatings, textiles

Energy solutions based on PCMs

Description: At the CTC we have experience and knowledge in the field of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) in:

Thermal analyses and studies. Thermo-hydraulic simulations by means of CFD codes (ANSYS CFX)
Integration of PCMs in applications
Development of PCM composites/carbonaceous materials with heat thermal conductivity
Microencapsulation of PCMs by means of spray drying processes.

Applications: