Chile.
A multidisciplinary team from the University of Santiago de Chile is investigating the possibility of finding new methodologies to avoid the spontaneous deterioration of materials, such as metals.
The project called Functionalized surfaces: protection against corrosion and biocorrosion, corresponds to a Research Ring in Science and Technology, headed by Dr. Maritza Páez Collio.
The working group, composed of researchers from the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, Science and the Bioscience Foundation, recently presented the main advances of the work.
The director of the research points out that through this instance they were able to know what the different teams linked to the initiative are working on and, most importantly, establish the next challenges to meet the central objective of the study.
He adds that the expected results of this Anillo project aim to have a positive impact both in environmental matters and in the productive sector, through the development of "intelligent anticorrosive coatings, with excellent adhesion to the metal substrate, which present biocidal properties, and self-repair".
Sustainable methodologies
In recent years, significant efforts have been made to reduce fuel consumption and pollution associated with air and land transport, a process that has led to the modification and/or replacement of metal material and, consequently, to new corrosion protection methodologies.
To the above, the legal aspects are added, which are increasingly demanding and point to "green processes", explains the academic.
Another factor that is directly influencing the stability of metal surfaces is climate change.
Dr. Maritza Páez explains that the modification of the atmosphere and the biosphere leaves open another variable, difficult to evaluate, "since its behavior over time has not reached a steady state. This is particularly important in the evaluation of the factors that influence the corrosion process, and also, in the design of anti-corrosive solutions," he says.
Multidisciplinary team
The meeting brought together professionals from different disciplines, who gave twelve seminars on different aspects linked to the project.
During the day they gave twelve seminars associated with the topic, such as 'Functionalization of surfaces to covalently link polymeric coatings', by Dr. Lisa Muñoz; and 'A new type of hybrid polymer to cover metal surfaces', by Dr. Evelyn González.
Also present were Dr. Jenny Blammey and Dr. Patricio Muñoz, from the Biociencia Foundation, who presented 'Effects of microbiological diversity on metal surfaces ' and 'Microbiological and biochemical approach for the identification of microorganisms associated with biocorrosion', respectively.
In addition, they referred to the 'Electrochemical characterization of the protective efficiency of a vinyl polymer', which was in charge of Dr. Mamie Sancy, from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
The study 'Intelligent polymers with biocidal properties' was also presented, by Paulo Molina, student of the PhD program in Chemistry of the Plantel.
This project also has a line of research associated with nanoscience and nanotechnology, which was in charge of doctors Ignacio Azócar and Marcos Flores, who presented respectively: 'Antibacterial nanomaterials of broad spectrum', and 'Laboratory of Surfaces and Nanomaterials: morphological characterization and spectroscopic study of surfaces'.
Dr. Miguel Gulppi also joined, who addressed 'An enzymatic approach in Biocorrosion', and Dr. María Victoria Encinas, co-director of the project, who presented on 'Polymers of complex architecture: polymerization and characterization of the polymers obtained'.
Finally, doctors Marcela Urzúa and Francisco Melo, who presented 'Characterization and modifications of surfaces' and 'Study of superficial behaviors through AFM and RAMAN', respectively.
Source: University of Santiago de Chile.
