Technologies

CNR-ISTEC develops geopolymer composites for thermostructural applications, such as: self-supporting cavities; thermal and acoustic insulation; thermal and fire barriers; high temperature coatings and damping; molds and cores for foundry; foams and refractory linings. Geopolymers are chemically bonded materials at T <300 ° C. Being inorganic polymers without water in the structure, they tolerate high temperatures: they are incombustible, do not emit gas or fumes and do not explode.

Molecular doping (MD) is a doping method based on the use of liquid solutions. The dopant precursor is in liquid form and the material to be doped is immersed in the solution. During the immersion process, the molecule containing the dopant atom is deposited on the surface of the material forming a self-assembled monolayer, that is, ordered and compact. Through a subsequent heat treatment, the molecule decomposes and the dopant diffuses.

This invention comprises an interrogation and readout differential method for chemical sensors based on Surface Plasmon Resonances (SPR). The integration of the SPR sensing unit (chip or other), as intermediate reflecting element of a Fabry-Perot (FP) optical resonator, is the starting point for the application of this method.

The object of the technology is the development of a transferable methodology from the laboratory scale to the pilot scale to be validated in the industrial setting for the treatment of basic waste of natural polymers of agro-food or manufacturing industry.

The proposing team that works at CNR ISTEC has recently patented a technology for the production of the Smart Polycrystals (SP), i.e. transparent YAG-based ceramic polycrystals (Y₃Al₅O₁₂) variably doped with rare earths ions and transition metals ions. The SPs solve the problem of the reduction of the efficiency in the solid state laser systems caused by the inhomogeneous heating of the single crystals during the emission process.

Polymer development is approaching to a new stage of advancement in which new functionalities especially in combination with conductive polymers and nanomaterials are more effective. In this context the study of new composites is the key to enable the development of disruptive technologies as additive manufacturing. Increasing electrical conductivity open the way to a new class of objects to be prototyped rapidly at low cost with a high level of customization.

Geopolymers belong to the class of chemically bonded ceramics: they are synthesized at low temperatures and are eco-friendly, as besides the low consolidation temperature required by the process they can be produced from secondary raw materials and industrial waste of various kinds, thus reducing the energy demand and the environmental impact of the entire production cycle. Materials such as fly ash, steel mill slag, biomass ash, sludge and silt, extractive residues, mineral and ceramic powders, organic or inorganic waste fibers, plastics, etc.