Portfolio

New manufacturing technologies for metallic bipolar plates and protective coatings for polymeric electrolyte membranes (PEMs) hydrogen fuel cells. Bipolar plates are a key element of hydrogen fuel cells, because their durability and performance will determinate the definitive implementation of this technology in fields such as the automotive industry. In this sense, INNPLÁGENO project developed innovative manufacturing technologies and protective coatings for the optimisation of the performance of polymeric-membrane hydrogen fuel cells. Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that use hydrogen as a fuel and oxygen from atmospheric air as oxidant. The overall result of the electrochemical reaction [...]

Advanced coatings obtained via high energy plasma technologies for biomedical applications. INNOPLASMED develops advanced and innovative coatings to solve chemical, mechanical and biological stability problems identified in prostheses, implants and other surgical instruments. The long-term clinical success of these biomedical solutions can be improved by the application of the advanced coatings developed in this project. The coatings created by INNOPLASMED are processed by means of the development and industrial implementation of two innovative techniques based on high energy plasmas: the High-Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HIPIMS) and Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation and Deposition (PIIID). The project, led [...]

Measurement of toughness in high-strength steels sheets to predict fractures in car components, during service or forming. In Tough-Sheet project, the fracture toughness of advanced high strength steel (AHSS) sheets used in automotive industry has been evaluated to improve material selection in cold sheet metal forming and assess crashworthiness of structural and safety components. The method used to achieve this is the Essential Work of Fracture methodology (EWF), commonly applied to characterise polymeric thin films. The application of this project has provided a new mechanical property, fracture toughness, to consider in high strength sheet products, which [...]

Modern Spent Nuclear Fuel Dissolution and Chemistry in Failed Container Conditions. DisCo project aims at enhancing our understanding of spent fuel matrix dissolution derived of the development and use of novel types of fuel, such as doped and Mixed Oxide Fuel (MOX). To achieve this, DisCo improves the comprehension of the spent fuel matrix dissolution in reducing repository environments, as well as evaluates if the new types of fuel behave like the conventional ones. The effects and results of these new fuels will be investigated through experiments with spent nuclear fuel and synthetic materials, designed especially [...]

Automated processes for aircraft quality validation through the use of robotics and artificial vision. The solution being developed by MAF explores new possibilities to realize the validation tests in a more quickly and efficiently way. With this, the use of robotics and computer vision is maximized in order to minimize human interaction and automate the validation processes practically to the totality. Currently, the aircrafts validation tests imply a long and exhaustive process which consumes a huge quantity of time to verify all security and quality regulations. The human-work limits the efficiency of this process, increase the [...]

System for detection and diagnosis of mechanical failures based on acoustic emissions for a predictive maintenance in railway deviation systems. Predivia has developed technologies that allow the detection and monitoring incipient issues of cracks in critical elements of the railway infrastructure, as well as forecast their evolution, allowing to predict the fracture of the component once a crack is detected. The Predivia innovation allows to continuously supervision of railway infrastructure elements in order to substantially increase the infrastructure’s security, as well as reduce the operation and maintenance costs, maximising the availability of the infrastructure, increasing its [...]

Development of innovative coating and surface treatment technologies for biomedical applications obtained by means of vacuum plasma assisted deposition techniques. The BIOPLASMA project develops advanced and innovative coatings for biomedical applications, such as prosthesis or implants, with the aim to improve the biological response of these components, eliminating the clinical and surgical complications derived from both chemical and mechanical lack of biocompatibility and biostability. The solution of BIOPLASMA develops coatings with good wear resistance, a high hardness and adhesion, a low coefficient of friction and good antibacterial properties, among other improvements. To obtain these innovations, different [...]

Consciousness-raising campaign among students and the society in the e-waste management, the life cycle of electronics products and related business opportunities. The E-M@S project organises campaigns to involve schools and creates high-value educational materials, with the aim to educate more than 100 secondary students in Europe, their families and local communities, on the importance of raw materials, the e-waste culture and business opportunities associated to this field. A local campaign to collect e-waste is organized, as well as activities to show the results of the solutions proposed by E-M@S. Eurecat’s Sustainability Technology Unit participates in the [...]

Educational programme that aims to spread the issues related to Critical Raw Materials (CRM) through an in-field training programme, and a software tool to support engineers and industrial designers to promote a more responsible and sustainable materials selection process. Currently, materials are selected in mechanical design with no integration among performance, supply risks and sustainability requirements. To fill this gap, DERMAP project develops pilot training instruments with educational content focused on the selection of materials, based on CRM issues. Within the framework of the project, industrial courses are promoted to implement these tools and make designers [...]

Innovative technologies based on electro purification techniques to reduce the costs associated with the management and treatment of residual effluents from the paper, chemical and tanning industries. In the initial phase, ELDE select the characteristic effluents of the three industrial sectors, followed by a phase of application of the different techniques of electro purification and the selection of the most optimal technology for each sector. ELDE’s innovation reduces the energy consumption associated with electro purification techniques through new high efficiency power systems and the use of renewable energy sources. Eurecat, through its Sustainability Technology Unit, participates [...]

Recovery and valorisation of urban digestates resources in the framework of the circular economy to transform them into fertilisers of high-added value. DIGESTAKE project develops news processes and innovative technologies for the treatment, recovery, valorisation and reuse of liquids and gaseous effluents from the anaerobic digestion of WWTPs, to recover and reconvert the wastewater nutrients. The application of this innovation converts carbon dioxide from biogas into organic compounds through bioelectrochemical systems. In addition, the project develops an alternative process to recover phosphorus in the form of solid fertilizer through the crystallization of struvite; a recovery process [...]

Development of competitive and innovative technologies to reduce costs associated with the management and treatment of residual effluents of complex composition to obtain water of adequate quality of its management. The main objective of EFLUCOMP is to do research for the development of competitive and efficient technologies to deal with the presence of contaminants in effluents, such as persistent organic matter or high salinity. These technologies include separation methods (via membranes, elements, adsorption), biological processes and other innovative technologies, such as advanced oxidation processes. EFLUCOMP solution reduces exploitation and operative costs, guaranteeing the efficiency in the [...]

European Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB) driving competitiveness to the sheet metal forming industries. The FormPlanet project responds to challenges of the sheet metal forming industry, optimizing the development, design, production and performance of high-strength metals while reducing production costs and time-to-market for sheet products. FormPlanet, coordinated by Eurecat, is developing new material characterisation techniques and new modelling approaches to predict the performance of pieces and possible defects in an initial design state. Apart from this, FormPlanet also offers innovative and transversal services related with the compliance with regulations, access, the traceability of material data and [...]

Brine treatment based on electrodialysis metathesis and valuable compound recovery processes with the aim of reaching a zero liquid discharge (ZLD) process. Zelda has the objective to demonstrate and disseminate the technical feasibility and economical sustainability of decreasing the overall environmental impact of desalination systems for freshwater production. The project, led by Eurecat, demonstrates the technology developed in two desalinization plants located at Almeria (seawater desalinization) and Malaga (brackish water desalinization). Zelda also promotes activities to validate and optimize the technology at laboratory scale; to design the best strategy for the recovery of valuable compounds and [...]

Development and integration of technologies that allow the offer of energy control and optimization products for energy service companies of higher quality and performance than those currently available. The project Optiener has the objective to develop two informatics tools, focused on the market of buildings in the tertiary sector, to support the users, both from the point of view of the installation design and its energy management during operation. One of the tools developed is an optimized design environment and ESD facilities analysis tool to predict the energy demand associated to comfort services (air conditioning, ACS, [...]