New polymeric materials with exceptional mechanical and thermal properties

A Spanish university research group has developed new aromatic polyamides (aramids) models and polymeric materials reinforced with carbon nano-fillers (chemically functionalised previously with these polyamide models), constituting materials with exceptional mechanical and thermal properties. License agreements or manufacturing agreements are sought with industry, academia and R&D institutions in the sectors of water purification, energy storage, safety materials or textile.

The Spanish research group is an interdisciplinary group in the areas of knowledge of chemistry and materials. This Spanish research belongs to a medium-sized Spanish university founded in 1994, housing others 76 research groups more.

The university has been very active in several European research and innovation programmes (H2020 and previous FPs, LIFE, Justice, ERASMUS+, Interreg, COST, LLP, IEE, Research Fund for Coal and Steel, D. G. for Competition Policy and Strategy, Science for Peace and Security Programme-OTAN…) with over 50 European projects; with the role of coordinator in 22 projects and over 8.4 M€ overall EU funding received. Currently, this university participates in 26 on-going projects (in 12 of them as coordinator) in 8 different EU programmes with an average of 1.7 M€ of EU funding in the last 4 years.

Aramids reinforced with nano-fillers are prepared by dispersing the functionalized nano-filler in a solution of the aramid, and subsequent removal of the solvent. These polymers can be prepared in the form of a porous membrane, dense membrane, coating, fiber etc. obtaining materials with exceptional mechanical and thermal properties. Nano and microporous materials are made by adding an ionic liquid in the preparation process and its subsequent elimination in a solvent, producing high-performance materials with reduced density.

These materials can be used as high-performance polymers in different applications, such as:
- reinforcement in different structures
- high resistance textile fibers
- flexible conductive materials
- energy storage elements in electrochemical applications
- filtration membranes and water purification.

The researcher group is interested in international cooperation under license agreement and / or manufacturing agreement, with other research organization or universities and any size companies in the field of water purification, energy storage, safety materials and textile (military, firefighters, security forces), among others.

Advantages & innovations

The main innovations and advantages of this new polymeric materials are: • These new aramids and / or polymers reinforced with carbon nanofillers can be prepared in different form (porous membrane, dense membrane, coating, fiber, etc.), shaping materials with exceptional mechanical and thermal properties, with a reduced density. • The porosity generation process is simpler, faster and more homogeneous than other techniques such as phase inversion or the use of supercritical CO2. • Versatility, since it can be applied to both membranes and thicker materials (up to several mm). • It is possible to control the porosity parameters based on the process conditions (quantity and type of ionic liquid used, mainly). • The functionalization of the nano-fillers allows an optimal dispersion in the polymer. • The porous structure notably improves the mechanical properties compared to dense polymers (without porosity). These specific properties (values relative to density) are superior in porous materials compared to dense materials.

Stage of development

Prototype available for demonstration

Partner sought

License agreement - Type: public and private industry related to the water purification sector, energy sectors and safety materials - Activity: Industrial water purification, energy industry, manufacturing industry of personal protection systems (military, firefighters, security forces) - Role: a transfer of rights involving the authorization to use the patented technology, in return for a fee or share of royalties. Manufacturing agreement - Type: public and private industry, academia and/or R&D institutions in order to development and/or application of materials in the water purification, energy and safety materials sectors. - Activity: Industrial water purification, energy industry, manufacturing industry of personal protection systems (military, firefighters, security forces) - Role: stablish an agreement with an eye on production of this new polymeric materials.

Source/ contact: Enterprise Europe Network (europa.eu)