SOFT MATERIALS

In ICMATE a wide list of activities are devoted to develop “soft” materials. Such materials are able to be deformed under external stresses, as an example by varying their temperature. Soft materials may be liquids, colloids, polymers, foams, gels, granular materials, characterized by a large number of degrees of freedom, weak interactions between the structural elements, wide variety of shapes, sensitivity of the balance to external conditions, macroscopic softness, and metastable states.

Lines of activity:

• Organic-inorganic dispersions for applications on amphiphobic surfaces.

• Multi-materials for soft robotic technologies

• Emulsions, foams and porous materials with low environmental impact