Expertise and relevant sectors

We apply our expertise to the sectors of polymer composites, surfaces & interfaces, biomaterials, materials and energy, smart and functional materials, and engineering.

Our competences

Our competences in advanced materials technologies are focused on six main areas:

• material design
• surface and bulk engineering
• performance design
• material modelling
• structural modelling
• industrial processes modelling

All of these competences are developed in our research department Advanced Materials & Structures. Find more details in the list below.

Material design:

• Innovative materials
• Custom made materials (surface or bulk treatment)
• Improvement of material performance via bulk and surface treatment
• Advanced materials characterisation

Surface and bulk engineering:

• Thin coatings by PVD technique
• Electrochemical deposition of coatings
• Dispersion of nanoparticles in polymer matrix by melt blending or ultrasonic dispersor
• In-situ analysis
• Adhesive bonding
• Surface treatment (activation, cleaning, coating) by atmospheric plasma process
• Laser technology

Performance design:

• Testing of product functionality
• Ageing and durability processes
• Corrosion
• Recyclability (Life Cycle)
• Wear

Material Modelling:

• Micro-macro scales modelling of composite material(s)
• Ab. initio and Molecular Dynamics
• Constitutive modelling and finite element implementation
• Phenomenological modelling of Polymers and Shape Memory Alloys
• Statistical modelling of heterogeneous materials
• Determination of material constitutive parameters by inverse methods

Structural Modelling:

• Structural Dynamics (vibration control)
• Instabilities (Buckling, Wrinkling)
• Adaptive (Smart) Structures
• Crack Propagation and Delamination in composite materials
• Structural Health Monitoring

Industrial Processes Modelling:

• Sheet Metal Forming
• Fibre Post-drawing
• Thermoforming of Thin Polymer Films
• Rapid Prototyping (Selective Laser Sintering)