CETRI’s Advanced Materials Group is a multi-disciplinary team with plenty years of experience in R&D in the technological & scientific fields. The innovative potential of nanotechnologies offers a wide span of opportunities for the Key Enabling Technologies (KETs). With the implementation of nanotechnologies, products can be improved for both professional and general public users. CETRI’s skills therefore encompass a massive range of processes and applications, whether nano-engineered materials are integrated into complex matrixes or coated onto the surfaces, they offer prospects such as improved durability, self-cleaning, self-healing and water- or dirt- repellent features. The Nanomaterials division of CETRI encompasses an exceptionally wide range of advanced/ complex / smart /composites materials including manufacturing processes, applications and business issues. Our team of experts (incl. materials engineers, chemistry engineers and physics engineers) has deep enough knowledge to cover almost any process for any high added value application. CETRI is exceptionally well placed to support you in development of complex products, services and processes to gain more benefits for your business.
Surface engineering: preparation of polymeric films, multilayered structures and surface treatments including the surface modification and functionalization for the preparation of membranes and catalysts.
Composite Nanomaterials: Organic / inorganic and Polymer Synthesis, formulation of inks and paints, protective coatings and adhesives, hard coatings, anti-corrosion coatings.
Functional Nanomaterials: development of chemical sensors based on carbon allotropes (CNTs, Graphene, Fullerene), semiconducting organic / organometallic building blocks, Supramolecular chemistry, MLCT complexes, molecular electronics (molecular switches)
Nanomaterials: micro / nano-encapsulation of organic & inorganic particles, Carbon Nanotubes: (Chemical Vapor Deposition CVD) & catalytic processes, synthesis of Titania (TiO2) nanoparticles (variety of methods), hydrothermal synthesis of Titania (TiO2) nanotubes, hydrothermal synthesis of Zeolites
Smart & Bio Materials:bio-implants, hybrid scaffolds for tissue engineering, biodegradable polymers and self-healing materials, self assembled, bioactive scaffolds for tissue engineering, bioceramics prepared by the sol-gel method (mesoporous and macroporous bioglasses, nano hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate, tetragonal stabilized zirconia, SiO2 and ZrO2 nanospheres), reinforced acrylic bone cements (bioactive bone cements).
Polymers: Synthesis of PMMA beads by suspension polymerization.
Printing of nanomaterials: Printing of produced nanomaterials onto a vast variety of substrates, including those appropriate for flexible electronics. Ink formulations, contact angle measurements, film transmittance and conductivity measurements. The versatile inkjet R2R printing installation supports most commercially available inks, as well as a wide range of customized ink specifications.
Building material solutions: Development of insulation material solutions based on aerogels and the incorporation of nanostructures for improved thermal insulation.
In vitro bioactivity studies of bioceramics (bioglasses and bioactive bone cements)
CETRI has access to the most advanced equipment and characterization methods such as: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetry (TA/DTG), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Atomic Absorbance Spectroscopy (AAS), Porosimetry, Coating Characterization: Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), cyclic voltametry, electrochemical profiling of materials and coatings.
Polymer and acrylic bone cement characterization: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetry (TGA/DTA), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), viscosimetric method for molecular weights determination, NMR.
Bioceramics characterization: SEM/EDAX, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetry (TGA/DTA), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).
Bioceramics surface characterization: SEM/EDAX, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetry (TGA/DTA), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)