Description | Lines of research | Contact | Staff
 

Research in the Materials Unit is organized into four distint lines:

1. Materials for special applications

Some of the research projects developed within this line are:

• Biomaterials for medical applications, for example, bone cements for human prostheses, polyurethanes for the controlled liberation of nitrous oxide in cardiovascular applications and scaffolds for tissue engineering.
• Membranes with high resistance to temperature made from engineering polymers (random and block copolymers), to be used for gas separation or as microcircuits coatings.
• Nanostructured polymers prepared by microemulsion techniques to control the particle morphology, their reinfocement capacity and the mechanical performance of the material.

Participants:

• Manuel de Jesús Aguilar Vega
• Juan V. Cauich Rodríguez
• Fernando Hernández Sánchez
• Gonzalo Canché Escamilla
• José Manuel Cervances Uc

2. Polymeric composite materials

Research interests in this line include:

• Composites based on a polymer matrix reinforced with synthetic and natural fibers. Surface modification of textile fibers to increase their adhesion and distribution in a composite. Preparation and characterization of composites from thermoplastics (flexible materials) and thermoset polymers (rigid materials based on polyester and epoxy resins).
• Sandwich-type composites prepared by Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) to develop low-weight materials with high pressure and fracture resistance.
• Modeling techniques based on mathematical and numerical methods to predict mechanical performance and fracture mechanism of anisotropic materials. Modeling of the diffusion of liquids on composites and their performance under different thermal conditions.
• Nanocomposites developed by modification and incorporation of nanoparticles into polymer matrices.

Participants:

• Pedro Jesús Herrera Franco
• Volodimir Zozulya
• Carlos Rolando Ríos Soberanis
• Pedro Iván Gonzalez Chi
• Alex Valadez González
• Francis Avilés Cetina

3. Polymer processing

This line is centered on the study, improvement and development of methods for polymer processing leading to materials for different products. Example are the development of electroconductive polymers for antistatic applications and natural fibers as reinforcement material for thermoset and thermoplastic composites to substitute glass fiber and asbestos. Special interest is given to recycling processes, such as the preparation of composites based on wood and plastic wastes. Emphasis is given to optimizing the processing conditions for the production of materials for building, automotive and agricultural industry.

Participants:

• Volodirmir Zozulya
• Ricardo Herbé Cruz Estrada
• Javier Guillen Mallete
• Pedro Iván González Chí

4. Materials for energy systems

This line of research was started in 2006 and includes the development of material, processes and prototypes for the generation and/or use of renewable energy, specifically bioenergy and hydrogen technology:

• Nanostructured electroconductive polymers are being developed and applied as electrodes for polymeric supercapacitors, as electrocatalyst for PEM fuel cells and as sensors. Inorganic catalysts are being developed for the direct ethanol fuel cell. Different materials and parts for fuel cells are being developed, including bipolar plates and ion-conductive membranes, as well as fuel cell stacks.
• Biofuels are being prepared from non-food crops and organic waste. This includes the production of ligno-celulosic ethanol; biodiesel production from used oils; and hydrogen and methane production by means of fermentation and enzymatic processes. Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are being developed to produce hydrogen and energy from urban organic waste.

Participants:

• Mascha A. Smit
• Luis Carlos Ordóñez López
• Liliana Alzate Gaviria
• Luis Felipe Barahona Pérez
• Gonzalo Canche Escamilla
• Manuel Aguilar Vega