Ecomaterials
Materials for the future
IRIS offers a wide range of services in the materials field. We can support companies for new product research and development, for improving or characterising existing products, and also in the implementation of large collaborative projects.
Research fields
- Development of new sustainable materials (especially bio-sourced materials through valorisation of waste substances for other industries)
- Development of new packaging solutions (including active packaging)
- Recycling process improvement
- Surface treatment and coatings
Areas of expertise
- Materials selection (based on mechanical, economic and environmental aspects) and eco design
- Materials process optimisation
- Validation of packaging materials for food contact (study of material-food interaction, including substances migration, for compliance with safety legislation)
Analytical services we offer
We can carry out a wide range of physico-chemical characterisations of materials using our broad spectroscopic capability (FTIR, NIR, UV-vis), chromatography (HPLC), as well as with general purpose laboratory infrastructure.
Analysis of sample chemical composition:
- Identification of polymeric resins
- Detection / identification of additives and contaminants
- Analysis of polymeric extracts (free monomers, residuals, etc.), isolation of specific analytes
Analysis of reactive systems and material evolution:
- Studies of polymerisation, kinetics of reaction and grafting
- Analysis of surface modification
- Characterisation of sample weathering and ageing
Other general analysis and sample preparation:
- General wet chemistry (chemical titration, pH, etc.)
- Analysis of suspensions by UV-vis spectroscopy
- Colour determination
- Microscopic inspection
- Gravimetric test (temperature, humidity effects, etc.)
- Tuned ultrasonication for dispersion, dissolution, and other purposes.
