MADRAS group deals with statistical approaches applied to materials and process design, strongly oriented to environmental sustainability.
Research activity is focused on the following class of materials:
- Bio-Based materials: in a circular economy perspective, bio-based materials are one of the most affordable solutions to satisfy environmental sustainability criteria in materials formulation. MADRAS is focused on the exploitation of insects as source of nutrients and bacterial cellulose as base for new composites to be employed in biomedicine and electronic. In addition, the most recent research concernes bio-packaging for food wrapping.
- Materials for H2 and energy storage technologies: H2 and energy storage technologies further exploitation and diffusion are mainly driven by sustainable choices in terms of well tailored materials and assembly. In this context, MADRAS is working together with selected companies to (i) find new materials and solutions for membrane and electrodes assembly (ii) employ a statistical approach for test plan and multivariate results analysis, (iii) find industrially sustainable solutions for solid state eletrolytes battery packaging.
- Composite materials: formulation and process of this class of material is fundamental to obtain ad-hoc properties in advanced sectors such as automotive and smart textiles. The work of MADRAS is focused on the design, prototyping and characterization of such materials for innovative and tailored applications.
- Building materials: environmental sustainability is a critical issue for building, where energy saving strategies and materials from natural or re-use sources should be employed. In this context, MADRAS is working on phase change materials selection through rational approaches for innovative sensors and panels.
- Materials for REACH compliance: REACH is the well-known European regulation concerning chemicals to enhance safety and health for end-users and workers. MADRAS, through deep collaboration with private companies, is working to build databases and materials selection strategies to REACH compliance.
MADRAS, according to its multidisciplinary approach, is based @ the Department of Sciences and Methods for Engineering with facilities in Reggio Emilia Tecnopolo and several Interdepartmental Centers of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia:
