CIRI MAM

Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research in Advanced Mechanics and Materials Prof. Patricia Benito Martin – UO4 Structured and/or Composite Materials for Advanced Applications

CIRI-MAM is the Interdepartmental Centre for Industrial Research of the University of Bologna, and is active in the fields of Advanced Mechanics and Materials. It is organised into six operational units (OUs), each with specialised expertise and dedicated equipment. At the Faenza site, OU4 – ‘Structured and/or Composite Materials for Advanced Applications’, specialises in the study, modification and characterisation of polymeric and composite materials intended for high-technology sectors.

The laboratory supports companies in the development of high-performance, sustainable and technologically advanced materials: from designing composites with recycled fibres, to developing intelligent and self-sensing materials, up to the 3-D printing of advanced materials through innovative approaches based on highly sustainable monomers.

CIRI-MAM provides a broad spectrum of thermal, mechanical and functional characterisation services, employing advanced techniques including cone calorimetry, advanced rheology, FT-IR spectroscopy and thermos-mechanical analyses (DSC, TGA, DMA).

Established by the University of Bologna as part of the Technopole project, promoted by the Emilia-Romagna Region through the Regional Operational Programme of the European Regional Development Fund, CIRI-MAM is a laboratory within the C-HUB.

FUNCTIONAL AND STRUCTURAL FIBRE-REINFORCED COMPOSITES

RECYCLING AND REUSE OF CARBON FIBRES

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

FLAME BEHAVIOUR CHARACTERISATION AND OPTIMISATION

SERVICES

  • Characterisation of the flame behaviour of materials by cone calorimetric measurements

  • Thermomechanical characterisation of polymers and/or composites by means of:

    • DSC (definition of thermal transitions, Tg, Tm, Tc, enthalpy of reaction)
    • TGA (thermal stability, evaluation of inorganic fillers)
    • DMA (conservative and dissipative modulus as a function of temperature, coefficient of thermal expansion, HDT)
    • (Photo)rheology (gel point, viscosity, tack test)

  • Structural characterisation of materials by:

    • FT-IR
    • UV spectroscopy
    • Dynamic Light Scattering

  • Functional characterisation of materials

EXPERTISE

  • Recycling and reuse of complex materials. Investigation of pyrolysis and pyro-gasification in carbon fibre composites, with an assessment of the most effective reuse of recycled fibres. Production of new composites with recycled fibres (both short and semi-long) using highly sustainable thermoplastic and thermosetting polymer matrices

  • Modification and functionalisation of composites for both structural and functional purposes using nanotechnological approaches. Use of nanofibres and nanomaterials, such as graphene and similar 2D materials, for selective and optimised modification of the composite without changing its weight or dimensions. Inclusion of advanced features such as self-diagnostics (self-sensing materials)

  • Development of Additive Manufacturing (3D printing) processes, both SLA and FDM, from the development of highly sustainable monomers to the optimisation of geometries and printing processes

  • Study and characterisation of the flame behaviour of innovative materials