Research lines detailing
Research line 1: Ceramic and Sustainable Materials
Research project 1.1: Clay matrix ceramics and ceramic films
One of the main ceramic poles in the country is located in the Campos dos Goytacazes-RJ region, being directly and indirectly responsible for thousands of employments. In terms of installed capacity, despite the great potential, the quality and processing of the sector’s products has presented considerable difficulties. The lack of knowledge of regional clays characteristics and properties results in the use of heterogeneous raw materials and mispreparation of the mass, making it difficult to control the production process subsequent stages, leading to the production of low-quality materials that don’t match technical requirements. This project aims to characterize and reformulate masses of traditional clay-based ceramic materials such as red ceramics, ceramic tiles and white ceramics, seeking better processing routes and product quality, as well as the development of novel ceramic products of greater added value.
This project also study the development and characterization of films deposited by spray-pyrolysis made of ceramic materials added with rare-earth or lanthanide series elements, found mainly in the monazite mineral for the use in luminescent material or oxide fuel cell (PaCOS). This mineral has an important field located in Buena, in the São Francisco do Itabapoana municipality, North of the State of Rio de Janeiro. The energy conversion by means of PaCOS fuel cells is considered an alternative energy source on account of its conversion efficiency and because it is a non-polluting way of power generation. However, the fuel cell operating temperature must lower from 1000ºC to intermediate temperatures, approximately between 600 and 800ºC (PaCOS-TI) to facilitate its application for electricity generation. For increasing stability and service life, it is also necessary to minimize the electrolyte thickness and optimize the fuel cell interface. The materials in this research line fall within the fundamental UENF guideline, because aside from its considerable technological interest, they represent a real potential for rare-earths harnessing, one of the natural resources of the North/Northwest region of Rio de Janeiro.
Research project 1.2: Cement materials and geopolymers
In this project, the research is focused on the development of cementitious materials, supplementary cement materials, mortars and concrete, alkali-activated and geopolymeric for civil construction industry applications, such as blocks, tiles, interlocking pavements and others made from alternative materials with less environmental impact and reduced production costs. It also investigates the durability of these novel materials in the face of degradation environments and exposure to working conditions, studying the influence of the environment and other materials on their degradation.
Research project 1.3: Waste recycling
The North/Northwest Fluminense and neighboring regions productive sector is a major generator of polluting wastes from different types and origins. Of note are wastes from sugar and alcohol industry, oil and gas, mining, ceramics, steel, industrial laundry, water and sewage treatment plants, glass processing, and municipal garbage, among others. In this project is investigated the incorporation of wastes from various sources such as red ceramic, alkali activated cement materials and geopolymer materials for obtaining blocks, tiles, interlocking pavements and mortars and other civil construction materials. Furthermore, waste is incorporated to prepare composites for industrial pipes repairing, as well as for the development of artificial stones, partitions and coatings for civil construction.
Research line 2: Hard, superhard materials and metals and their alloys
Research project 2.1: Metals and their alloys corrosion: structure, stability and properties
This project’s main researches are environmental and high temperature corrosion, phase transformation, and metallic materials physical and mechanical properties. The main materials currently being investigated are: new generation stainless steel, duplex and super duplex, which have superior corrosion and mechanical resistance properties, being suitable for oil and gas industry, mainly in equipment that work in corrosive environments and above room temperature; alloyed carbon steels produced in steel mills and subjected to high hot metalforming temperatures, to analyze the corrosion mechanisms and seeking the reduction of production losses; nodular cast irons with high mechanical properties such as ductility and damping, to establish a correlation between production parameters, chemical composition, structure and properties, to upgrade casting time and minimize production costs; alloyed carbon steels, the titanium-aluminum-niobium and titanium-aluminum-vanadium alloys that undergo phase transformations like martensitic transformation with high damping quality and are heat treatment sensitive, to establish a correlation between structure parameters and physical and mechanical properties of thermally treated alloys as well as to analyze the structure stability obtained during heating, emphasizing dynamic modules and damping; NiCrSiBC family alloys, with high wear and corrosion resistance; monocrystalline copper-nickel-aluminum system alloys, with a shape memory effect that makes it suitable for use in external human prostheses and as energy elements for mechanical actuators; aluminum-silicon alloys with excellent fluidity in the liquid state that enables its use in multiple casting techniques, with an emphasis on automotive industry application; and cobalt alloys subjected to dynamic efforts, to be used for orthopedic implants.
Research project 2.2: Synthesis and sintering of superhard materials and cutting tools
Research focused on the study, characterization and testing of cutting tools for the ornamental stone, oil and gas and metal-mechanics sectors, to investigate the influence of raw materials pressure and temperature on the synthesis and sintering process of mono and polycrystalline diamonds, as well as physical-mechanical properties of hard and superhard materials (carbides, nitrides, oxides and their combinations). Other high pressure and temperature techniques are also investigated, in particular: spark plasma sintering (SPS), hot pressing (HP), conventional sintering and high energy milling. The ultimate goal is the development of novel advanced materials for cutting tools, intended for the ornamental stone, civil construction, oil and gas and metal-mechanics sectors.
Research line 3: Polymeric Materials and Nanomaterials
Research project 3.1: Polymeric materials with magnetic nano charges and carbon allotropes
Study of biopolymers containing magnetic nanocharges as matrices for the development of new formulations of active agents for vectorized and controlled drug release systems for medical and veterinary areas, as enzyme supports in the design of new biocatalizers for the biotechnology industry.
The vectorized and controlled drug release systems formulations are integrated into the horses genetic development in the animal genetic enhancement laboratory (CCTA / UENF). The formulations containing enzymes mainly focus on obtaining biofuels in continuous flow reactors assisted by external magnetic fields, enhancing processes efficiency.
Study of controlled release of specific drugs in bone diseases treatment and as bone filling materials, such as nanocomposites with biopolymers and carbon allotropes, are also performed.
Research project 3.2: Biofilms and nanostructured polymeric membranes
Project in partnership with the Faculdade de Odontologia de Campos to develop and characterize biofilms/nanostructured membranes containing active nanocharges for the production of active packaging and dental membranes for use in guided bone marrow regeneration procedures. Another partnership with the Votorantim company aims to develop nanostructured biopolymer membranes for application in effluents treatment, mainly in mining.
Research project 3.3: Polymeric composites with natural origin fillers
Research in polymeric matrix composites with natural fibers and particulate minerals, among other fillers, for manufacturing civil construction alternative materials such as: countertops, floors and coverings. Laminated composites with vegetable fibers of high impact resistance and flexural strength are intended for application in the bulletproof coats manufacture.