Third episode of the special dedicated to the national conference AIMAT - the Italian Association of Materials Engineering - in Catania, at the Plaza Hotel, until 1st June. We interviewed Professor Teodoro Valente, director of the Institute for Composite Polymers and Biomaterials of the National Research Council and new president of ASI (Italian Space Agency), a position that was assigned to him during the days of the meeting in Sicily.
Professor Valente, at what point is the research on polymers, composites, and biomaterials?
«The research on polymers, composites, and biomaterials is a constantly evolving field and has numerous developments. For polymers, there are multiple relevant areas, including the synthesis and characterization of polymers with specific properties, molecular engineering of polymers to improve their performance, understanding polymer reaction mechanisms, the extensive world of bioplastics (biodegradable and/or from renewable sources), the sector of functional films for packaging with antibacterial properties and, for specific applications, low gas permeability. As for composites, research focuses on the development of advanced materials to achieve desired properties such as lightness, mechanical strength, and thermal conductivity. In this field, the use of thermoplastic matrices (including cellular forms), the use of natural reinforcement phases combined with non-fossil source matrices, and the development of 3D printing technologies are examples of significant interest, while traditional composites are still used for some structurally demanding applications. Research on biomaterials aims to develop materials compatible with biological systems for medical and biotechnological applications. These materials can be used for tissue regeneration, drugs delivery, tissue engineering, and implantology. Studies focus on designing biomaterials that are biocompatible, bioactive, and capable of interacting appropriately with the biological environment».
What are the most innovative materials and in what sectors will we see them increase soon?
«The question is very broad. There are several innovative materials emerging in research that could have a significant impact in different sectors. Examples range from graphene to biodegradable materials, thermoelectric materials, and functional nanocomposites based on polymers. Graphene is a two-dimensional material composed of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal structure. It has exceptional mechanical strength, is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity, and has many other unique properties. It can have applications in sectors such as electronics, energy, composite materials, medicine, and tissue engineering. With increasing attention to environmental sustainability, the focus on biodegradable materials has grown significantly, considering the highly relevant issue of microplastic pollution. Sectors of interest include packaging, medical devices, textiles, and agriculture. Thermoelectric materials are capable of converting heat into electricity and vice versa. They can be used for thermoelectric power generation and cooling in applications such as electronics, electric vehicles, and high-tech applications».
Is the future of materials truly green?
«The future of materials is increasingly oriented towards so-called green solutions, meaning environmentally sustainable. The growing awareness of the environmental impact of traditional materials and the need to address challenges such as rational resource use are driving the development of more eco-friendly materials derived from renewable sources. This includes aspects of biodegradability, recycling, high- efficiency battery materials, and solar energy, which can contribute to reducing carbon emissions, as well as the use of lighter materials. Weight reduction is important for improving efficiency and reducing impact in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and transportation in general. Taking the example of single- use plastic containers, some considerations can be made. From a technical and, in some cases, regulatory perspective, the substitution of single-use plastic containers with products made from entirely recycled plastic is evolving. The use of virgin/recycled plastic blends is currently the best strategy to ensure manufacturers have sufficient control over the technical characteristics of the final products. The full use of recycled plastics is not yet able to provide valid products due to the heterogeneity of characteristics among different batches of recycled plastics. Current studies are moving towards producing entirely valid products using recycled plastic, which can be further recycled».
What kind of products?
«There are reusable containers/packaging, such as glass or paper/cardboard, but they are currently not competitive compared to single-use containers/packaging, either due to their energy impact (glass) or limitations in ensuring that the packaged product retains its characteristics over time (cardboard), arriving to the consumer without undergoing alterations in chemical or sensory properties or bacterial contamination. However, the replacement of single-use containers/packaging with reusable products that are not made of plastic is already feasible for specific applications where the performance of the container/packaging is not an obstacle (bulk product containers). This methodology can only be applied for local distribution and not on a large scale. Another possibility for replacing traditional single-use plastics is the use of plastics derived from renewable and biodegradable sources (bioplastics), which are rapidly gaining popularity. However, for many applications where specific properties are required for the container/packaging (such as gas barrier properties), the use of bioplastics still faces technical and cost limitations. For such applications, further development activities are still needed to make bioplastics technically competitive with traditional plastics. The higher costs are due to two factors: a) higher cost of raw materials (bioplastics compared to traditional plastics); b) the need to invest in research and innovation to make bio- containers/packaging technically competitive in terms of performance compared to the use of traditional polymers».
Can composites help us in the transition to electric vehicles, and will their usage increase in the coming years?
«Composite materials can play a significant role in the transition to electric vehicles and the promotion of more sustainable transportation systems in general. Their usage offers advantages such as weight reduction and potentially higher energy efficiency. Polymer matrix composites are known for their lightweight nature and high mechanical strength. By replacing heavier traditional materials, the overall weight of vehicles can be reduced, leading to improved energy efficiency in electric vehicles as less energy is required for movement, allowing for longer distances to be covered on a single charge. The high mechanical strength of composites can also enable the design of more aerodynamically efficient vehicles, further enhancing energy efficiency. The combination of weight, shape, and strength represents a compelling aspect for the use of these materials».
How important is the collaboration between universities and companies in the field of materials?
«The collaboration between universities and companies is of great importance, both in general and specifically in the field of materials. This collaboration can bring numerous benefits by accelerating scientific and technological developments. The exchange of knowledge, access to research, development, and characterization facilities available at universities, and training activities are all elements that facilitate the process of technology transfer, regardless of the innovation paradigms adopted as reference. Collaboration between the research world, including universities and public research institutions, and the business world in the field of materials is crucial for promoting innovation, developing new materials, translating scientific discoveries into practical applications, and generating new companies. There are various ways to implement collaborative approaches, ranging from joint laboratories to public-private partnerships. The goal is to create an innovation ecosystem where each actor, bringing their own expertise and respecting their own mission, can actively contribute to translating knowledge into tangible examples, overcoming the often existing language differences implicit in the different roles, which may pose a challenge not so much for large companies but for the SMEs that are particularly abundant in the Italian context. A crucial factor is the development of sustainable and consolidated relationships, avoiding solely punctual collaborations, so that the virtuous cycle between research demand and research supply can be nourished».
WHO IS
Teodoro Valente is full professor of Materials Science and Technology - La Sapienza University of Rome. Graduated in Mechanical Engineering, MBA master at the LUISS University, former visiting Scientist at the Osaka National Research Institute and National Seconded Expert by the MUR for European COST Actions in the Materials Area. First Director and then President of the National Interuniversity Consortium on Materials Science and Technology. He has been Director of the Department of Chemical Materials Environmental Engineering, Deputy Rector for Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer of Sapienza and President of the National Competence Center Cyber4.0. Actually, Director of the Institute for Composite Polymers and Biomaterials-National Research Council. Responsible of several research projects, also in public-private collaboration. The scientific activity has covered sectors related to Materials Science and Technology, Applied Chemistry and Chemical Foundations of Materials Technologies. Author of more than 180 publications and two international patents. Editor in Chief of the "Journal of applied biomaterials and functional materials"; in 2013 he received the Marco Polo Award for Italian Science, conferred by the Italian Cultural Institute in Osaka with the patronage of the Italian Embassy in Tokyo. On 29 May 2023 he was elected president of ASI (Italian Space Agency).
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31 May 2023
