UB

Description:

The DIOPMA center is a scientific research group formed in the Department of Materials Science and Physical Chemistry of the University of Barcelona. The aim of the group is to help companies overcome future and present challenges by innovating, improving their products or their manufacturing technologyAccordio

Research in materials science is aimed at the following sectors:

• Environment (recycling, inerting, life cycle, circular economy…)
• Metallurgy (purification, new alloys, etc.)
• Mines (granular analysis, reactivity, etc.)
• Industrial processes (pilot plant, optimization processes)
• Energy (fuel cells, superconductors, thermal energy storage
• Construction (fire-resistant aggregates, fire-proof polymers, thermal and acoustic insulation)

• 3D printing / AM
  • Formulation of ceramic, metallic and polymeric inks
  • Application of DLP and Robocasting technologies
  • Multi-material printing

Activity in relation to additive manufacturing:

DIOPMA has been working in the field of additive manufacturing since 2016, focusing research on the development of materials for Robocasting and Digital Light technologies Processing. The research group has extensive experience in carrying out projects with companies and in technology transfer, reflected in its curriculum with more than 40 patents developed by companies and more than 260 research projects by companies.

Services:

The DIOPMA Center collaborates with industry by offering different high-value services related to Materials Science. Some of the most prominent services are:

• Technical advice and consultancy
• Participation and advice in research, development and technological innovation projects (R+D+i)
• Participation and consultancy in competitive projects
• Specialized training for the public and private sector
• Technology transfer
• Fundamental, applied research, development and innovation
• Bibliographic studies on patents and regulations
• Bibliometric research for developing research areas
• Design and characterization of metallic, ceramic, polymeric and composite materials
• Search, selection and/or design of new materials
• Mechanical tests on a macro, micro and nanometric scale
• Structural, physical and chemical characterization
  • Multiple characterization techniques available through the Scientific and Technical Services of the University of Barcelona (CCiTUB)

Description:

The Thermal Projection Center is a research center of the University of Barcelona specialized in Surface Engineering since 1994. Its main activity is the development of research projects and technological innovation in the field of surface engineering using the most advanced thermal projection technologies.

This activity is articulated through three 3 strategic lines of research that comprise the different work areas of the center:

• New materials
• Surface engineering
• Advanced technologies

Through these lines of research, the center wants to position itself as a reference within the field of thermal projection in three fundamental axes: promotion of sustainability, improvement of industrialization processes and active transfer of technological knowledge.

Activity in relation to additive manufacturing:

In the line of advanced technologies, the group has its own infrastructure, the result of a long history. At this moment, the CPT is equipped with conventional thermal projection technologies (Flame, Arc, Plasma, High Velocity Oxygen Fuel), and the latest thermal projection technologies such as Cold spray. This latest technology, Cold Spray or Cold Projection, falls within the classification of additive manufacturing processes with metal, as it presents the possibility of generating near net shapes with a series of advantages such as high productivity and flexibility in terms of materials and piece sizes to produce.

In addition to the production of near net shapes with metal, the CPT promotes two more lines within the field of additive manufacturing. On the one hand, there is the metallization of parts manufactured with 3D printing of polymer that can be coated with metal, thus expanding the scope of use and applications of the part in question. On the other hand, both cold projection and other thermal projection technologies can be used for the repair of metal parts.

Services:

Some of the most outstanding activities offered by the Cold Projection Center are:

• Management, development and innovation of research projects with companies, as well as research with national and international public funds.
• Industrial innovation projects, research and development programs in the field of surface engineering.
• Technology assessment and transfer; patent development.

In recent years the thermal projection center has developed an extensive line in the field of additive manufacturing. Lines have also been jointly developed and experience has been accumulated in areas and applications such as:

• Applications in electrolyzers (bipolar plates and active phases)
• Simulation of thermal projection processes
• New two-dimensional materials
• New materials based on high entropy alloys
• Coatings resistant to wear and corrosion
• Thermal barrier coatings
• Antifouling coatings
• Gradual, functionalized and multilayer coatings.

Project in the network:

• Cold Spray additive manufacturing of new bipolar plates for hydrogen production. Additive Manufacturing with Cold Projection of Ti Bipolar Plates for the reduction of costs of PEM electrolyzers.
• Low-cost, Fast and Industrial Additive Manufacturing of Metal Components (FABRICA’M)

Description:

The research group has experience in the characterization and development of new metal-based materials as well as developing new materials for the elimination of pollutants (organic solvents, dyes, microplastics or toxic effluents from extractive metallurgy).

The main lines of research are the following:

• Use of powder metallurgy to obtain nanostructured alloys out of thermodynamic equilibrium.
• 3D printing (FFF) of metals and alloys and study of their properties and applications.
• Removal of pollutants such as heavy metals, dyes, organic solvents or microplastics.
• Nanostructuring in the solid state by severe plastic deformation processes.
• Treatments for surface modification and functionalization of surfaces.
• Extractive metallurgy, metal recycling, by-product treatment and by-product valorisation. Minimization of toxic effluents.
• Structural characterization and mechanical properties.
• Study of corrosion and the protection of materials against it.