Our objective is to develop efficient and sustainable strategies to obtain nanostructured and multicomponent materials capable of facing the challenges of the 21st century in relation to their ultimate performance, with mesoporous silicas being an important component in our recent research for the design of polymer-based materials with high added value applications.
The specific objectives are:
- Customized functionalization of mesoporous silicas, mainly MCM-41 and SBA-15 type, and obtaining hybrid (nano)particles with specific characteristics (catalytic, bactericidal, release of active compounds, among others).
- Preparation, mainly by in situ polymerization and melt processing, of nanostructured and multicomponent materials based on: (a) biobased and/or biodegradable polyesters; (b) electroactive polymers and dielectric materials; (c) circular polyolefins.
- Obtaining recycled polyolefins, optimising the plastic waste to be incorporated and the cocktail of additives to guarantee their properties during their useful life.
- Evaluation of the influence of silica (nano)particles on the solid-state structure (thermal transitions, polymorphism, etc.) of the resulting material. Confinement effects. Study of their processability and their spectrum of properties.
- Catalytic characteristics promoted by decorated mesoporous silicas and/or zeolites in the degradation of different polymeric materials to promote their chemical recycling.
Physical-Chemical Characterization Unit
The activity of this unit is primarily focused on the characterization of polymer materials through the study of parameters such as mechanical properties, material identification and its components using spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques, determination of thermal properties through thermogravimetry, oxidation induction time, differential scanning calorimetry, and other optical properties.
The unit is composed of scientific and technical staff from the NANOMULPOL group, the HEMPOL group, and the Characterization and Scientific-Technical Assistance Unit of the ICTP.
Main publications
Recycling of Metallocene Isotactic Polypropylene: Importance of Antioxidants
Enrique Blázquez-Blázquez, Tamara M. Díez-Rodríguez, Ernesto Pérez, María L. Cerrada
J. Therm. Anal.Calorim. 147, 13363–13374 (2022)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-022-11505-2
Norbornene as key for a possible efficient chemical recycling in structures based on ethylene
Antonio F. Calles-Valero; María L. Cerrada; José M. Gómez-Elvira, Alberto García-Peñas
Polymers 14, 5052 (2022)
https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14225052
A novel approach for preparation of nanocomposites with an excellent rigidity/deformability balance, based on reinforced HDPE with halloysite
Duarte M. Cecílio, Maria. L. Cerrada, Ernesto Pérez, Auguste Fernandes, João P. Lourenço, Timothy F.L. McKenna, M. Rosário Ribeiro
Eur. Polym. J. 184, 111765 (2023)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2022.111765
Detailed microstructure analysis through monomeric insertion modes of poly(propylene-co-norbornene) copolymers and poly(propylene-co-ethylene-co-norbornene) terpolymers with low norbornene contents
Sergio Fernández-Delgado, Alberto García-Peñas, Daniel Serrano, María L. Cerrada, José M. Gómez-Elvira
Polym. Testing 124, 108081 (2023)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2023.108081
Biocidal mesoporous SBA-15 particles decorated with Ag nanowires: nucleant role in PLLA crystallization and antimicrobial transfer of their activity to the resultant biobased PLLA-SBA15@Ag composites
Tamara M. Díez-Rodríguez, Enrique Blázquez-Blázquez, Marta Fernández-García, Alexandra Muñoz-Bonilla, Ernesto Pérez, María L. Cerrada
Micropor. Mesopor. Mat. 352, 112493 (2023)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micromeso.2023.112493
Main projects
- CICYT, MAT2016-79869-C2-1-P. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Polímeros (ICTP-CSIC), Dra. María Luisa Cerrada y Dr. Ernesto Pérez. “Funcionalización de Sílices Mesoporosas para la Optimización de las Prestaciones Finales en (Nano)Compuestos Poliméricos”. 30/12/2016-31/12/2020. Financiación concedida: 108.900 €
- CVCSIC-AEPP-Ayudas Extraordinarias Preparación Proyectos 2020 (2020AEP129) Ayudas extraordinarias para la preparación de proyectos 2020. IP: Dra. María Luisa Cerrada. 01/01/21-31/08/21. Financiación concedida: 6.654,84 €.
- AEI (Agencia Estatal de Investigación), PID2020-114930GB-I00. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Polímeros (ICTP-CSIC), Dra. María Luisa Cerrada y Dr. Ernesto Pérez. “Desarrollo de (nano)compuestos poliméricos con prestaciones avanzadas a partir de partículas hibridas basadas en sílices mesoporosas”. 01/09/2021-31/08/2024. Financiación concedida: 121.000 €.
- Ayudas para la realización de Proyectos Interdisciplinares de I+D para Jóvenes Doctores/as de la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (CICLAPNER-CM-UC3M): “Poliolefinas ciclicas para aplicaciones energéticas y bases fundamentos de su reciclado químico para una economía circular”. IPs: Dr. A. García-Peñas y Dr. D. Serrano García. 01/01/2022-31/12/2023. Financiación concedida: 59.999,20 €.
- (TED2021-130166B-I00). Dres. Juan Antonio Oliet, Joaquín Martínez (IPs): “Reciclado de plásticos agrícolas para la restauración de ecosistemas: una aproximación de economía circular aplicada a los tubos protectores de plantas”. 01/01/22-31/12/24. Financiación concedida: 270.250 €.