In 2014, EU PLASTICS INDUSTRY accounted for 1.4MM jobs and contributed to high living standards of the EU citizens by enabling new and more affordable technologies. Most of the PROCESSING of POLYMERIC MATERIALS occurs under NON-ISOTHERMAL flow conditions. As a result, the COST/ENERGY REQUIRED to manufacture, recycle and dispose polymers is STRONGLY AFFECTED by the thermo-physical properties linkage to state variables such as temperature and stress. Experiments show that flowing polymers exhibit ANISOTROPIC THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY (ATC) (i.e. direction dependent). This phenomenon has been previously NEGLECTED in both the simulation of INDUSTRIALLY relevant flows and the development of a molecularly-based THEORY for thermal transport in polymers. This research targets THIS GAP IN KNOWLEDGE by: 1) EXTENDING molecular-based modelling techniques to include ATC; 2) TRANSFERRING the physical insights to macroscopic network models (MNM) by averaging the important physical processes; 3) VERIFYING the MNM predictions by comparison to experimental data; 4) IMPLEMENTING a robust MNM for ATC in finite element methods (FEM) to simulate prototype flows. This study will COMBINE the ER EXPERIENCE investigating THERMO-PHYSICAL properties of polymers with the expertise of the HI supervisor in the development MNMs and their APPLICATION to FEM. In addition, a SECONDMENT at an expert group in molecular simulation will provide the KNOWLEDGE needed to CONNECT the MICROSTRUCTURE to the MNM. This INTERDISCIPLINARY project will BENEFIT INDUSTRY through the OPTIMIZATION of FABRICATION processes and the assessment of the mechanical and thermal PERFORMANCE OF PLASTICS during use. At a more fundamental level, understanding how micro-structure couples with the macroscopic properties will allow us to TUNE POLYMERS to become BETTER THERMAL CONDUCTORS or INSULATORS. The materials derived from these outcomes will directly IMPACT SOCIETY through more ADVANCED AND AFFORDABLE devices and products.

The underlying innovation idea of this proposal (which is mainly addressing exploitation and dissemination activities), is the development of an Intregrated Nanostructures Assessment-Service for the biological impact analysis of nanostructures (INAS) combining toxicology and LCA studies for innovative materials. In the linked FET project ICARUS (Nr. 713514), a portfolio of LCA and nanosafety assessment tools was developed to determine environmental indicators, emissions and the mass/energy balance related to different materials/solutions adopted for the production of nc-alloys, as well as to ensure the safety of the new alloys at all stages of its life-cycle. This portfolio, including in vitro tests, rapid high-throughput tests and mechanistic toxicity projects applying omics technologies, will be offered for the assessment of the human and environmental safety of the customer´s product, which could be implemented in the customer´s facilities too when requested. The toxicology assessment will be tailored as well to the chemical-related impacts for which characterization factors (CFs) are necessary within the LCA analysis, allowing a full harmonization between the available toxicity data and the customer´s products life cycle, following the European Commision´s Joint Research Centre (EC-JRC) recommendations. In preparation of the INAS service, the exploitation, IPR and dissemination strategies will be defined and implemented in this project, based on in-depth market analysis, business planning and other exploitation-related activities.

The management of the growing amount of food waste is considered as an urgent environmental and economic burden by the European Commission. In response to this challenge, the Algwas-Bior Project proposes an integrated Biorefinery technology, focusing on the valorization of the waste stream released from the algae industry following agar extraction Gelidium sesquipedale. The hydrocolloid-centric extraction of this seaweed generates a large quantity of waste rich in organic materials and biologically active compounds. In Europe, a modest focus has been accorded so far to the industrial valorization of these compounds, particularly for the development of value-added food additives, pharmaceutical ingredients, and health-promoting products. The cascade technology will be a versatile solution adaptable to a wide range of food industry waste-stream valorization, thus, moving up the waste hierarchy through coupling the biomass and production sector in a solid circular Bioeconomy. The methodology combines high-quality process performance data generation supported by automated data acquisition and process control systems along with cutting edge analytical methods. The interdisciplinary concept mostly based on supercritical and subcritical fluids technologies, expanded to modern, clean technologies will be subjected to pilot-scale testing and process validation using the facilities of Hiperbaric as a secondment. The proposal will deliver state-of-the-art training to the researcher in these technologies within a three-way transfer of knowledge with the host institution and industrial partners. The results will lead to the development of commercialisable process that will reinforce the competitiveness of the food industry and will contribute to the strategy of the European Union to build a strong circular and bio-economy leading to the creation of viable green job opportunities.

Piezoelectric materials have become a key technology for a wide range of industrial and consumer products with a robust global market of U.S. $21 billion in the last 2013. Current technology includes applications on actuators, ultrasonic motors, sensor arrays for structural health monitoring, transformers, micro-energy harvesting devices, hydrophones, high resolution ultrasonic medical imaging, computer disk drives, and accelerometers in mobile phones and notebooks. Currently the most important piezoelectric ceramic materials are based on mixed oxide crystal system consisting of lead, zirconium and titanium, well known as lead zirconate titanate (PZT). Cost-effective and efficient synthetic strategies, structural modifications and doping by foreign ions represent the key steps to significantly improve the performance of PZT materials, such as piezoelectric, dielectric and mechanical stability properties. In this frame, we purpose a new research methodology based on the preparation, characterization and testing of hierarchical porous PZT-doped using alternative synthetic approaches (EISA method) and new doping materials (porous Mg-Niobate, Graphene/Molybdenite and Nanocellulose) to achieve important innovations and overcome the current state of art on the field of hydrophones and high resolution ultrasonic medical applications. Innovations are represented by the preparation of highly-efficient porous PZT matrices, not yet reported in the literature, with very-high surface area whit the idea to enhance the contact between PZT-matrix and media (water, medical gels, etc) and then increasing the sensibility and piezoelectric response of the device. Regarding new doping approaches, Nb-source will be nano-confined into the PZT matrices using the pores as hosting elements with the advantage of constraining dopants in nanoscale. Graphene/Molybdenit nanocomposite and Nanocellulose will be also used to replace critical Nb as also recently recommend by the European guidelines.

This proposal combines synergistically the predictive power of quantum mechanical calculations with a high throughput framework for the accelerated photovoltaic material discovery. The main objective of the project is the creation of a material database that contains no crystalline-complex materials, which can be potential candidate for the development of a new generation of photovoltaic material. The robustness of the project is reinforced by the secondment of Onyx solar which will synthesis and characterize the most promising candidates to validate the methodology and optimize the process. The collaboration between ICCRAM researchers and facilities and the experience of the fellow in this multidisciplinary field guarantee the ideal conditions for the success of the research and the development of new methodologies, infrastructures and knowledge that are highly linked to the roadmap described in Horizon 2020