Projects of interest Advanced Materials

Development of new PCM´s materials  for Hot Water Health systems. 

The project consisted of the development of new advanced phase change materials (PCM ' s) to improve the energy efficiency of hot water systems (ACS). 

• The synthesized PCM's improved properties compared to the existing ones.
• Increase of thermal conductivity by the synthesis of PCM's composites/matrix base carbon.
• Thermo-chemical stability through controlled mixtures.

Development of panels of materials with phase change materials (PCM) to increase efficiency and energy saving in large refrigeration chambers.

The project aims to define, analyze, design, and build panels for large, quick-frozen refrigeration chambers through the employment and the incorporation of smart materials known under the name Phase Change Materials - (PCM ' s).

Development of Fire Resistant Telecommunications Cable.

The objective of this project was to develop cables capable of passing the standard IEC 60331-23 test. This rule is to put a flame (approx. 700 ° C) under the cable for 90 minutes + 15 minutes without flame, while the cable remains operational during that time, transmitting and receiving data. Advanced ceramic materials were used for this. This development project helped the client patent a new product.

Development of sandwich panels and tubular profiles using the pultrusion technology.

The main objective of this project is the development of sandwich panels and tubular profiles manufactured using pultrusion of composite materials. Development work is to manufacture composite polymer matrices reinforced with fiberglass, and modified with additives/loads in laboratory, in order to achieve high performance. This is for carrying out a pilot study with different formulations of resin and configuration of the reinforcement in order to obtain the following characteristics:

• High fireproofness or low flammability (according to standards UNE test).
• Improved mechanical properties (according to standards UNE test).
• Protection against environmental conditions: UV radiation (according to standards UNE test).
• Technical and economic viability for the manufacture of these products full-scale pultrusion process.

Study and development of alternative materials to improve productive models for molds.

This completed project was developed for NOCU S.A., whose objective was use and development of alternative materials with good technical performance and competitive costs for the manufacture of large models for molds, with the purpose of obtaining the technical requirements set by customers with reduced cost and thus improving the competitiveness of the company. This project was carried out after a detailed study of the state of the art, as well as the development of different prototypes combining alternative already-known materials, resulting in some cases very satisfactory.

This will allow the company to enter and address successful projects in sectors where components are large (naval, renewable energy,...).

Design of high value-added products based on carbon nanostructures: Consortium NANOCIT.

The Consortium aims to promote long-term partnerships between various complementary technological centres to foster the development of R & D projects in the field of nanotechnology, in wide range of materials, applications and sectors.

Participation of the CTC in the Consortium will focus on the manufacture of "sandwich" panels fabricated by pultrution, consisting of a skin panel formed of a polymeric matrix and reinforcement materials, and a core consisting of a modified polyurethane rigid foam. Carbon nanotubes (CNT) will be introduced in the polymeric matrix to improve mechanical and fireproof features over what exists today.  An innovative method for dispersion of the CNTs to the polymeric matrix will be implemented and developed in order to obtain a homogenous dispersion and therefore efficiently transfer their excellent physical properties to the matrix.