UPC

Description:

NEMEN focuses its activity on the preparation, characterization and evaluation of catalysts to operate in heterogeneous phase in reactions of fundamental and industrial interest. From a fundamental point of view, it is dedicated to designing new catalysts, usually nanoparticles supported on inorganic oxides, in order to correlate the catalytic behavior with the structure of the catalyst and manage to find out in this way the nature of the active centers and their behavior. This is why it is important to carry out spectroscopy and microscopy studies under in situ conditions, which are carried out in the same laboratory of the research group (LACE-EEBE), in the multiscale science and engineering research center of Barcelona (EEBE) and in the ALBA synchrotron.

Regarding its industrial application, the group is dedicated both to the tailor-made preparation of catalysts and catalytic devices and to reaction engineering. We work with conventional catalytic wall reactors (ceramic and metal honeycomb structures and/or plates), microreactors, membrane catalytic reactors, as well as with the new possibilities offered by 3D printing techniques.

Description:

e-PLASCOM carries out its research in the field of Science and Technology of Plastic and Composite materials, studying the relationship between processing-generated structure-properties. Its general objective is to reduce the environmental impact of plastic products, using recycled or renewable raw materials, as well as sustainable manufacturing technologies.

He has developed projects focused on the modification of PLA with different strategies: preparation of nano composites, reactive extrusion and mixing with other thermoplastics.

In this context, the group’s strategic objectives are articulated around 3 axes:

• Axis 1-Materials: Research on natural, bio-based and/or biodegradable polymers. Natural fillers and fibers (on a micro and nano scale). Thermal, mechanical and rheological characterization of these materials.
• Axis 2-Design, processing and behavior in service: Application of Ecodesign concepts, manufacturing through new processing technologies of thermoplastics with an emphasis on lightening the weight of the components.
• Axis 3-Plastic waste: Study on recycling and revaluation of plastic waste.

Activity in relation to additive manufacturing:

Preparation and characterization of metal feedstocks with polymeric binder for additive manufacturing through material extrusion.

Services:

R&D projects, tests and advice for companies in the field of plastic materials.

Project in the network:

• Plastic Upgrading

Spin-offs: –

Description:

The CDAL is a consolidated research group (GRC) of the UPC with experience in research and technology transfer in the fields of component manufacturing. The group’s areas of expertise are: forming with metallic materials, especially light alloys, and surface engineering, both in technical and decorative coatings.

The CDAL has experience in different technological areas related to the manufacture of components, especially for the industries: aeronautics, automotive, railway and transformer.

• Metal materials:
  • Study of the relationship between the microstructure and the properties of materials.
  • Selection of light alloys and optimization of shaping processes (Casting, forging, heat treatments…)
  • Research and development of semi-solid state forming processes (SSM).
  • Optimization of thermal treatment parameters.
  • 3D printing: Selection of alloys and development of new additive manufacturing processes of metallic materials.
• Surface engineering:
  • Advanced characterization and analysis of surfaces to respond to a wide variety of industrial requirements.
  • Development of new coatings with better resistance to wear and/or corrosion. High-speed thermal projection pilot plant (HVOF process).
  • Analysis of failures in coated components and search for solutions.
  • Improvement of the current processes of obtaining coatings and surface treatments. Introduction of new techniques.
  • Decorative coatings.
  • anodized
• Manufacturing processes:
  • Optimizing the parameters of foundry and forging processes
  • Improve the design of molds and dies.
• Characterization:
  • Metallographic characterization by means of optical and electronic microscopy of the microstructure in metal alloys, composite materials and coatings.
  • Qualitative and quantitative analysis using EDX and RX techniques.
  • Qualitative and quantitative analysis using EDX and RX techniques.
  • Carrying out tensile tests at low and high temperatures.
  • Performance of hardness, microhardness and ultra-microhardness tests.
  • Potentiodynamic corrosion tests and in a salt fog chamber
  • Tribological characterization of materials: determination of friction coefficients and wear resistance.

Activity in relation to additive manufacturing:

In the first area (made with metallic materials), the CDAL is participating in two projects in the area of ​​additive manufacturing of metals:

• BASE 3D project (FUSE3D), Grouping in emerging technologies in additive manufacturing, (2019-2022), funded by GENCAT
• Project RTI2018-097885-BC31, “Development of new additive manufacturing processes for the production of metal parts”

These projects are based on CDAL’s experience in different European and national projects of forming aluminum in a semi-solid state. In addition, the CDAL has collaborated with Eurecat in the development of a process for obtaining sludge of aluminum (RD10-1-0021 Ultra-SSM) and with SEAT on the laser printing of metallic materials(Metall 3D Printing).

In the second field of research (surface treatments and coatings) he has participated in different European and national projects: COMPWERC (BRPR-CT97-0579), Nano-HVOF (GRD1-1999-10986), MAT2008-01261 i MAT2004-06716-C02-01. These investigations go lead the CDAL to the acquisition (in March 2007) of a pilot plant for obtaining coatings by high-speed thermal projection (HVOF).

Services:

The CDAL offers a wide range of specific services to companies so that they can improve their quality and competitiveness.

These services include:

• The acquisition of new knowledge through the development of research and development projects or technological innovation
  • National R+D+i projects
  • International R+D+i projects
  • Specific projects and agreements

• Staff training
  • Introduction to Materials Science.
  • Metallic, reinforced metallic, plastic, ceramic and composite materials.
  • Bankruptcy analysis.
  • corrosion
  • Surface treatments.
  • Conformation of materials.
  • Forming of aluminum alloys.
  • Metal coatings resistant to wear.
  • Heat treatments of light alloys.
  • Introduction to the simulation of properties in industrial components by finite elements.
  • Properties of Al, Mg and Ti alloys.
  • Quantitative metallographic analysis.
  • Training of laboratory personnel in analysis and testing techniques.

• Technical reports: the analysis of specific problems
  • Characterization of materials
  • Analysis of component and process failures
  • Quantitative micrographic analyses
  • mechanical tests
  • Tribological properties of coatings

Spin-offs: –

Description:

The TECNOFAB group carries out applied research in different Manufacturing Technologies, regarding the processes themselves, the methodologies, the computer-assisted systems and the integration of different technologies. The activities are grouped into two large areas, all of them related to the study and analysis of the surface finish: additive manufacturing processes and mechanical manufacturing processes.

The main activities in the area of ​​additive manufacturing processes are the following:

• 3D printing of plastic and composite materials (wood, metals, etc.) by extrusion using fused deposition modeling (FDM).
• Ceramic 3D printing by extrusion using direct ink writing (DIW).

Regarding the area of ​​mechanical manufacturing processes, the main lines are the following:

• High Speed ​​Machining for milling in 3 and 5 axes.
• Machining with abrasives for burnishing and honing
• Ball burnishing.

Other research activities are also carried out in the areas of machinability of materials, laser cutting and cryogenic machining, among others.

Activity in relation to additive manufacturing:

For the different manufacturing processes studied, analyzing dimensions such as shape errors, surface finish and the mechanical resistance of the pieces.

Services:-

Spin-offs: –