Location: Istituto di BioRobotica – Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna
Lab head: Prof. Francesco Greco
Contact: info@lab.it
Lab Team
Francesco Greco
Istituto di Biorobotica
Hilda Gómez Bernal
Istituto di Biorobotica
Aliria Poliziani
Istituto di Biorobotica
Lab Mission
The B3MAT Laboratory will feature a complete facility for compounding and investigating structural and functional materials for «cradle-to-cradle» sustainable biorobotics (body and sensors/actuators) and their processing methods.
The groups of main assets to be installed are:
- facility for formulation and fabrication of materials from renewable sources (raw biomaterials, bioderived polymers, composites with agrifood waste, natural fibers, etc.), bioinspired & biomimetic materials, biodegradable/inert materials – milling and compounding, standard chemical preparation lab equipment.
- facility for manufacturing/processing methods for soft electronics/robotics from bioderived materials (with specific targets pointing to safe deployment & end of use in natural environments, transient electronics/sensors with low energy and/or low carbon footprint manufacturing/processing methods) – galvo UV laser scribing equipment for laser induced graphene synthesis and patterning, screen printing.
- facility for materials properties & behaviour characterizations, also in interaction with natural elements – thermal, mechanical, climatic analysis, surface properties.
Devices
UV laser marking system (KEYENCE MD-U1000C)
Highly functional 3 axis UV laser marking system for applications needing high contrast with minimum damage. The instrument is equipped with a YVO4 THG standard wavelength (1064 nm) laser that passes through 2 crystals effectively reducing the wavelength to 355 nm. This UV laser has a significantly higher absorption rate on a wide array of materials (often greater than 60%), leading to a higher efficiency in marking.
Data sheet: download
Additional information: Features download
Hybrid laser marking system (KEYENCE MD-X2000A)
Smart 3-Axis Hybrid Laser Marker suitable either for gentle marking on resin and high-power marking on metal. The system (wavelength of 1064 nm) is equipped with the S-MOPA laser oscillator, which combines the technology of YVO4 laser and fiber laser allowing the instrument to achieve optimal markings (delicate and high power) on different targets.
Data sheet: download
Additional information: Features download
Screen Printer (Aurel C920)
The AUREL C920 is a high-precision semiautomatic screen printing machine for high-quality printing on large surfaces (max. A4 size) through the use of masks with predefined design impressed on screens at various mesh sizes (defining the resolution). This system enables the controlled deposition of a wide range of pastes and inks (conductive, insulating, semiconductors (and other functional materials) onto flat substrates (paper, polymer sheets) for the production of printed electronic components. The automatic setup ensures precise and controlled alignment and uniform layer distribution.
Data sheet: download
Note: The screens with the print layout must be made by an external service (Max print area of 350x 400 mm ).
Automatic Film Applicator (TQC Sheen AB4400)
Provided with heated (up to 100°C) and perforated vacuum bed, the instrument allows adjustment of the speed, pressure and pull direction of the spreading process, to achieve a controlled and uniform film thickness with a maximum size of 29.7 x 42 cm. The uniform temperature distribution across the entire vacuum plate enables in-situ and regulated drying of the deposited film.
Data sheet: download
Note: –
Optical Tensiometer (Biolin Attension Theta Flex)
This versatile contact angle meter enables reliable measurements to characterize surface properties. It captures images of liquid drops and automatically analyzes their shape, which is influenced by the liquid’s surface tension, gravity, and density. The captured images are analyzed using a drop profile fitting method to accurately determine the contact angle and surface tension.
Data sheet: link to page
Additional information: Features download
Ultra Centrifugal Mill (RETSCH ZM300)
Ultra Centrifugal Mill with stainless steel components is safe and easy to use for grinding materials with final fineness up to less than 40 µm. The variable speed from 6,000 to 23,000 rpm enables gentle sample preparation in short time and high reproducibility based on temperature monitoring. The collection system allows maximum sample recovery and easy cleaning. The instrument is equipped with three sieves with openings of 0.08, 0.25 and 1 mm.
Data sheet: download
Note: –
Simultaneous Dynamic Thermal Analyzer (TA Instruments Discovery SDT 650)
Thermogravimetric Analysis coupled with Differential Scanning Calorimeter that delivers real-time simultaneous weight and heat flow data. The system can operate from ambient temperature up to 1500°C with samples up to a mass of 200 mg. It’s provided with double scale with easy positioning of the crucible and double weight signal which also allows to analyze two samples simultaneously (dual sample TGA).
Data sheet: link to page
Additional information: Features download
Note: The machine requires the technical personnel presence
Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (TA Instruments Discovery DMA 850)
DMA measures the mechanical (stiffness or Youngs’s Modulus) and viscoelastic (storage and loss modulus) properties of materials as a function of temperature and time, allowing precise control either in force or displacement in both static and oscillatory modes. The gas cooling accessory and the furnace allow temperature control from -150°C to 600°C and three test geometries (single/double cantilever, tensile-film and three-point bending, as well as submersion tensile-film) provide different deformation types for different applications.
Data sheet: link to page
Additional information: Features download
Note: The machine requires the technical personnel presence
Modular Compact Rheometer (Anton Paar MCR 302e)
This machine can operate in rotational and oscillatory mode applying a torque to the materials by turning in a single direction or in two directions. This allows to determine properties like viscosity, shear stress, shear modulus as well as storage/loss moduli in liquids and gels. The Peltier temperature control (-40° to 200° C) allows measuring temperature effects on rheological parameters.
Data sheet: link to page
Additional information: Features download
Source Meter Unit (KEITHLEY 2604B)
Keithley’s Series 2604B System SMU instruments are the industry standard current-voltage source and measure solution for highly automated production test applications. Both dual- and single-channel models tightly integrate a precision power supply, true current source, DMM, and electronic load with pulse generating capabilities. Plus, TSP® technology runs complete test programs for automated system applications, and TSP-Link® technology enables daisy-chaining up to 64 channels for high volume parallel test. Therefore, such instrument allows characterizing the response of conductive materials and sensors.
Data sheet: download
Freeze dryer (FreeZone 2.5 Liter -84C – LABCONCO)
The instrument enables freeze drying at -84°C
Ultrasound homogenizer (Sonoplus HD4100, Bandelin)
Usable with volumes from 2 to 200ml
Centrifuge (Heraeus megafuge 8k)
-10 to + 40 °C, speed: 300 – 17,850 rpm