M.A.R.T.A. CentreMaterials Laboratory

One of the main objectives of the Materials Laboratory is to provide a tool for day-to-day teaching, research and consultancy activities in the field of materials engineering and, in particular, the processing and characterisation of materials, especially polymer-based materials (unprocessed or multi-component).

To this end, the laboratory is equipped with various instruments, ranging from material conditioning, extrusion or compression moulding processing, rheological and mechanical characterisation and analysis of the behaviour (light stability, weather resistance) of conventional and composite materials subjected to accelerated ageing.

The main lines of research focus on the preparation and characterisation of polymeric systems as such and/or multicomponent (blends, composites) with particular attention to biopolymers (biodegradable and/or compostable and typically obtained from renewable sources), to ‘green’ composites with a lower environmental impact (typically biopolymer-based, loaded with organic-natural lignocellulosic fillers) and to nanocomposites, for multiple applications (especially in the packaging, furnishing and automotive sectors), as well as to paper and/or polymeric systems for packaging, for which activities related to a research project financed with funds from the 2014-2020 Sicily PO-FESR are currently underway.

For contact, please send an email to marco.morreale@unikore.it

The Materials Laboratory is located within the MARTA research centre in the Santa Panasia Science Park of the University of Enna Kore.