PARTNERS: INSTM  

Material relevant to the Institute

Actually there are 43 INSTM affiliated universities operating, all those departments where research on materials is performed. The number of principal investigators is steadily growing and by now has reached 1800 persons, including fellowships and post-docs. The Consortium coordinates the activities of the affiliated universities, providing technical and financial support in order to promote the development of new collaborations in the Material Science and Technology’s field and to reach the required ‘critical mass’ for tackling innovative research projects at the highest competitiveness-level. The success of this strategy has been confirmed by the large number and the high quality of national and international funded research projects. INSTM has recently started important technology transfer initiatives, in order to offer interesting opportunities of interaction between the academic and the industrial world.

INSTM partecipates in NANOBIOCOM through the research unit of University of Perugia coordinated by Prof. J. M. Kenny.

The main research activities of the group are related to the processing-structure-properties relationships of polymers, polymeric composites, metallic materials and surface treatments:

• Rheology of thermoplastic polymers and composites
• Chemorheology of thermosetting matrices
• Composites interface characterization
• Mechanical and dynamic mechanical characterization of polymers and composites (tensile, compression, shear, flexural, impact: Izod, Charpy and ball drop)
• PVT curves of polymers and short fibre composites
• Thermal characterization of polymer and composites (DSC, TGA, DTA, DMA)
• Dielectric characterization
• Flame resistance and degradation of polymers and polymeric composites
• Mathematical modelling of the processing of polymers and composites
• Structural analysis and design of composites structures
• Mould design
• Plasma surface treatments
• Carbon Nanotubes synthesis and functionalization techniques.

 

List of relevant publications

• “Dynamics of Amine Functionalised Nanotubes/Epoxy Composites by FTIR and Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy” L. Valentini, I. Armentano, D. Puglia, J. M. Kenny, Carbon 42 (2004) 323.
• “Role of Defects on the Gas Sensing Properties of Carbon Nanotubes Thin Films: Experiment and Theory” L. Valentini, F. Mercuri, I. Armentano, C. Cantalini, L. Lozzi, S. Santucci, A. Sgamellotti, J. M. Kenny, Chem. Phys. Lett. 387 (2004) 356.
• “Chemical Gating and Photoconductivity of CF4 Plasma Functionalized Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Butylamine” L. Valentini, I. Armentano, F. Mengoni, D. Puglia, G. Pennelli, J. M. Kenny, J. Appl. Phys. 97 (2005) 114320.
• “Sidewall Functionalization of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes through CF4 Plasma Treatment and Subsequent Reaction with Aliphatic Amines” L. Valentini, D. Puglia, I. Armentano, J. M. Kenny, Chem. Phys. Lett. 403 (2005) 385.
• “Electrical Transport Properties of Conjugated Polymer onto Self-Assembled Aligned Carbon Nanotubes” L. Valentini, I. Armentano, P. Santilli, J. M. Kenny, L. Lozzi, S. Santucci, Diamond and Related Materials 12 (2003) 1524.
• “Frequency Dependent Electrical Transport Between Conjugated Polymer and Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes” L. Valentini, I. Armentano, J. Biagiotti, E. Frulloni, J. M. Kenny S. Santucci, Diamond and Related Materials 12 (2003) 1601
• “Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes-Polypropylene Composites Prepared by Melt Processing” M. A. López Manchado, L. Valentini, J. Biagiotti, J. M. Kenny Carbon, 43, 7, 1499-1505 (2005)

 

List of relevant projects

• NANOFUN-POLY: NANOSTRUCTURED AND MULTIFFUNCTIONAL POLYMER-BASED MATERIALS AND NANOCOMPOSITES (leader)
• NANOFIRE: ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY MULTIFUNCTIONAL FIRE RETARDANT POLYMER HYBRIDS AND NANOCOMPOSITE
• PRONACOM: A FONDAMENTAL STUDY OF THE PROCESSING STRUCTURE-PROPERTIES OF NANOCOMPOSITES FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS (leader)
• PARCO LIGURIA: REALIZATION OF NANOCOMPOSITE MATERIALS BASED ON CARBON NANOFIBERS AND CARBON NANOTUBES FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC SHIELDING (leader)
• PRIN 2004/2005: NEW HIBRID FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS BASED ON CARBON NANOTUBE AND POLIMER MATRIX FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC APPLICATIONS. (leader)

 

Infrastructure/ facilities

Thermal Analysis Laboratory

• Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), Mettler-Toledo mod. DSC 822
• Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), Perkin Elmer mod. Pyris 1
• Thermo-gravimetric balance (TGA), Seiko Instruments mod. Exstar 6000
• Thermo-mechanical analyzer (TMA), Perkin Elmer mod. TMA 7

 

Laboratory Of Physico-Chemical Characterisation

• Universal dynamometer, Lloyd Instruments mod. LK30
• Ball drop impact tester (1500 J), testing geometry: from 100 cm2 up to 1.2 m2.
• Rheometer and dynamic-mechanical analyzer (DTMA), Rheometric Scientific mod. Ares
• Melt flow index (MFI), Campana
• Polarized Optical Light Microscopy, Hund mod. H600
• Hot-stage for temperature control, Mettler Toledo mod. FP82
• Electric impedance analyzers, Hewlett Packard mod. 4291A
• Electric impedance analyzers, Hewlett Packard mod. 4284A
• Environmental chamber

 

Polymeric Materials Processing Laboratory

• Single screw extruder Bausano MD 30
• Twin screw extruder Bausano SD 30
• A Sandretto Micro 30 injection machine (30 Tons)
• A vertical press for hot plates compression Bell P7/ 91/ PL
• An RTM machine (Resin Transfer Moulding) Hypaject MK II
• A mill for the recycling of plastics
• A degassing mixer
• An oven with vacuum
• Three ovens for the thermosetting resins cure

 

Laboratory of Thin Films and Nanostructured Materials

• AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy) for measurements of topography and roughness
• STM (Scanning Tunneling Microscopy) for measurements of superficial topography with resolution < 10 nm and spectrometry I/V.
• Nanoindenter (loaded max. 500 mN) to measure hardness and elastic property of tin films.
• Dielectric characterization (1Hz-1GHz) of the materials in an interval of temperatures comprised between 500K and 4.2K.
• Spectrophotometer Uv-vis with sphere of integration for measures in reflection and transmission to double optical beam for the study of the coefficient of absorption and the optical gap
• Elemental characterization through spectroscopy FTIR of systems in solid state and solution
• Contact Angle
• Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope + EDS

 

Bio-Materials Laboratory

• A waterproof Glove box (3rd class biological hood) for the manipulation and preparation of both inorganic and organic, organometallic and biochemical compounds;
• Tabletop centrifuge for biological, microbiological and biochemical research;
• Tabletop measurer pH/mV/temperature, a pH-meter which includes 3 points autocalibration, manual/automatic temperature compensation, adjustable resolution of 0,0001-0,01-0,1pH, an internal timer and a RS-232 serial connection for an interfacing printer or computer.