Projects

from the last 10 years:

Patents

The group has a portfolio of patents in following technological matters:

• “3D thermal energy storage materials ”. Patent application number   P202330010

More efficient thermal energy storage materials have been additive manufactured using 3D ceramic supports and phase change materials.

• “Structured 3D catalysts based on activated carbon”. Patent application number  P202330043

3D printed catalysts for the hydrogen production have been manufactured.

• “Porous radiant burner”. Patent number ES2319151 (B1)🡻

Assembly for porous radiant burners comprising a base plate comprising compacted ceramic fibers whose composition comprises a mixture of SiO2 and Al2O3 in a proportion comprised between 70:30 and 30:70 by weight, and a porous structure located on the base plate whose composition comprises between 65 and 80% by weight of SiC and at least a second ceramic component.

• “Porous burner”. Patent number ES2343933 (B1)🡻

Porous burner adapted to be fed with different types of gases, comprising a support including a conduit through which an air/gas mixture enters the porous burner, and a ceramic structure, supported by the support, comprising a sponge initially polymeric that is impregnated with a slip, said slip comprising at least one ceramic material. The ceramic structure has a final porosity of between about 50 ppi to about 70 ppi, and a final density of between about 0.45 to about 0.65 g/cm3.

• “Method for obtaining a ceramic filler material for thermal-spraying techniques”. Patent number ES2357712 (B1)🡻, WO2011045457 (A1)🡻

Method for obtaining a granular ceramic material suitable for use as filler material in the various techniques of thermal spray-coating. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for obtaining a granular filler material of spherical shape, with a size within the range of 5 to 150 µm using suspensions of ceramic powders atomized in a cold medium and dried by means of a freeze-drying process.

• “Graphene hybrid materials and coatings”. Patent number ES2597157 (B1)🡻, WO2016198716 (A1)🡻

The invention relates to a hybrid material that is an electrical conductor, has self-healing capacity, is resistant to mechanical deformation, thermal ablation, corrosion, and oxidation, and has improvements in both toughness and impact resistance. In addition, the invention relates to a coating comprising the hybrid material and a suitable substrate having good adhesion to the material. In addition, the present invention relates to a process for obtaining the hybrid material and the coating system by thermal spray techniques. Finally, the present invention relates to the use of the hybrid material or the coating system as a component or part of a component of protection systems used in aeronautical, aerospace and nuclear plant applications, as well as the use of the hybrid material or the coating as union interface in electronic and energy systems.

• “Dense and homogenous ceramic material consisting of carbon/silicon nitride nanotubes, production method and applications thereof”. Patent number ES2326018 (B1)🡻

The invention relates to a composite silicon nitride ceramic material consisting of a dense silicon nitride matrix without pores and with non-degraded carbon nanotubes (CNTs) uniformly dispersed inside the matrix. The invention also relates to a method for producing said composite materials by the dispersion of the carbon nanotubes in the silicon nitride matrix and the subsequent spark plasma sintering thereof in a vacuum. Said materials can be used to produce tools, devices or any type of element requiring a good thermomechanical and tribological behaviour, for example, cutting tools or anti-wear components, for example, valves, ball bearings and flanges.

• “Silicon nitride ceramic material having an in-situ continuous gradient function, process for manufacture, properties and applications thereof”. Patent number ES2335850 (B1)🡻

The present invention relates to a silicon nitride ceramic material having a continuous gradient in the microstructural characteristics thereof and in the properties thereof, from one extremity to the other of the ceramic component. Furthermore a method is described for the manufacture in situ of said ceramic materials having a gradient function from a single homogenous composition of ceramic powders and employing a sintering process through electric discharge modifying the temperature profiles within the compacted ceramic powder. These materials may be utilised for the manufacture of tools, devices or any type of element requiring good thermomechanical and tribological performance, for example cutting tools, or in anti-wear components such as valves, bearings and journals. Furthermore they may be employed as substrate wherein exists a porosity gradient wherein to grow nanotubes of carbon and utilise the device as catalyst or membrane.

• “Process for production of graphene/silicon carbide ceramic composites”. Patent number US9988313 (B2)🡻, EP2897921 (B1)🡻, WO2014047283 (A1)🡻

We provide a method for the in situ development of graphene containing silicon carbide (SiC) matrix ceramic composites, and more particularly to the in situ graphene growth within the bulk ceramic through a single-step approach during SiC ceramics densification using an electric current activated/assisted sintering (ECAS) technique. This approach allows processing dense, robust, highly electrical conducting and well dispersed nanocomposites having a percolated graphene network, eliminating the handling of potentially hazardous nanostructures. Graphene/SiC components could be used in technological applications under strong demanding conditions where good electrical, thermal, mechanical and/or tribological properties are required, such as micro and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS), sensors, actuators, heat exchangers, breaks, components for engines, armours, cutting tools, microturbines or microrotors.