Thus, the technology center has made progress in its nine lines of research: Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry, Climate Change and Decarbonization of the Economy, Sustainable and Future Mobility, Food Security, Circular Economy, Health, Chemical Technology, Materials Characterization, and Industry 4.0; and has developed the first phase of its Plastics Living Lab.
In the area of Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry, this funding has allowed AIMPLAS to promote more sustainable plasticulture and aquaculture products, such as films for covers with wavelength control; develop new biopolymers from byproducts of terrestrial and aquatic plant biomass, such as starches and algae; and valorize different products with high fiber content, such as crop residues, to obtain wood-like and cardboard-like plastic materials. Furthermore, active ingredients have been incorporated into these products to give them phytosanitary, biostimulant, or fertilizer properties, thereby reducing the use of chemical inputs. Finally, work is also underway on new technologies for coating biopolymeric materials in fertilizers so that, when these reach the soil, the quality of the arable land is maintained.
Meanwhile, in the area of Climate Change, AIMPLAS has worked on two fronts. On the one hand, on the decarbonization of the economy, through the design of new equipment for adsorbing CO2 and other polluting gases, photodegradation systems for pollutants in water, and ammonia hydrogenation reactions for future hydrogen production. On the other hand, research within this area is also aimed at promoting sustainable construction through new processes and reformulations of PVC using recycled material and more sustainable additives and fillers than those currently used on the market. This includes the study of new construction systems using polymeric, thermoplastic, and composite materials, building coatings to reduce energy demand, and a legislative review of new trends in harmonizing construction products.
Regarding Sustainable and Future Mobility, AIMPLAS has addressed four major challenges: sustainability, connectivity, electrification, and safety. To this end, it has focused on structurally lightening vehicles through the development of thermoplastic and thermoset composites, and on increasing energy efficiency through structures such as hydrogen tanks and battery casings. The technology institute has also concentrated on using bio-based materials to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and on the multifunctionality of materials, endowing them with properties such as electromagnetic shielding, fire resistance, and improved electrical and thermal conductivity, among others. The development of smart structures through the integration of sensors that enable optimal maintenance throughout a product's lifecycle has been another key area of research.
In the area of food safety, work has continued on natural polymers and reusable packaging. In the first case, new alternative sources of these polymers are being evaluated due to increasing demand. Regarding reusable packaging, these materials are being tested in different cycles and under high-temperature conditions, as the purpose of this packaging is to hold products that can then be baked or microwaved.
During 2023, AIMPLAS also strengthened its research in the Circular Economy, focusing on waste management solutions and optimizing all recycling processes. Specifically, the center worked on separation processes for complex waste and on the efficiency of physical and chemical recycling processes to reduce processing times and energy consumption. All of this aimed to achieve truly more efficient and safer processes that would yield higher-quality recycled products that can be reintroduced into various plastics sectors with a reduced environmental impact.
In the area of healthcare, AIMPLAS has made progress in encapsulation processes to incorporate antimicrobials in the fight against HAIs (healthcare-associated infections). Simultaneously, it has developed biosensors for early identification in hospitals, enabling proactive disease management. AIMPLAS has also worked on new biodegradable and biocompatible polymers to develop new medical devices. Finally, it has continued its work on more sustainable technologies, promoting pharmaceutical compounding (holt-melt extrusion and melt granulation), which provides solutions for the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical sectors (such as easy-to-swallow solutions) with a reduced environmental impact by eliminating the use of solvents.
In the field of Chemical Technology, the Institute has focused on the development and pilot-plant scale-up of various polymers, particularly biopolymers derived from the valorization of agro-industrial waste. It has also made progress in the production of bioadditives with antimicrobial or flame-retardant properties, and in the development of capsules and particles containing active substances for use in cosmetic packaging or fabrics for face masks. Furthermore, work has been carried out on hydrophobic coatings, and processes in the mechanochemical and reactive extrusion lines have been intensified. Throughout all of this, the sustainability of the processes has been placed at the heart of the entire Chemical Technology research line.
In the area of Materials Characterization, AIMPLAS has focused on the study of dynamic mechanical tests, using fatigue and temperature cycles, which are employed to characterize materials in complex and demanding sectors such as aerospace. In materials biodegradation, the center's activity has focused on optimizing the assessment of biodegradation in marine environments, increasing the sensitivity of the method. In the area of microplastics, the center has expanded its knowledge to determine microplastics, both quantitatively and qualitatively, using coupled techniques. Regarding research on NIAS (non-intentionally added substances), the center's activity has been directed toward the most analytically complex determination: non-volatile NIAS present in packaging made of different materials, including biopolymers and recycled materials. The risk assessment of NIAS is complemented by the development of methodologies based on in vitro bioassays.
In the field of Industry 4.0, work has focused on two main areas: additive manufacturing, with the development of new materials such as electrically conductive filaments and powdered materials, and printed electronics, with new piezoelectric sensors. Research has also been conducted in a third area derived from the convergence of these two fields, enabling the creation of 3D-printed objects with integrated electronics, such as printed sensors and heating elements. Soft robotics has also been explored through the development of soft materials for humanoid joints with integrated 3D electronics to control flexion, movement, and other parameters.
Finally, thanks to this support from IVACE, AIMPLAS has also developed the first phase of its Plastics Living Lab, a dynamic space that will allow it to complement its innovation system with a validation system for R&D&I demonstrators, aligned with the SDGs and with a greater environmental and social impact.
