PREMICER

his project aims the development of high performance tableware products, consistent with current market requirements, in particular in the hotel and restaurant industry, such as HORECA market. New products must meet the highest performance requirements related with chipping resistance and metal marking stated for intensive use that these products are submitted to. At the same time, they should meet the new market trends regarding to the promotion of new features in porcelain product, particularly concerning food heat conservation. As a result of new developments, it is intend to obtain technological conditions to put products on the market with increased lifetime performance and new features, giving conditions for the company to consolidate export market share towards countries of strategic importance.

To achieve these goals, the development will be centered on the use of particulate or fibrous materials, at the micro/nano-scale, which will be incorporated into different functional areas, and specified in accordance with the function to promote: on product edge to promote improved resistance to mechanical shock, in the center to improve the marking metal performance, and the back of dish/plates for heating conservation. At the end of the project, it is intend to get functional prototypes of new products range, as well as protocols associated with technological transfer of the different developed solutions to the industrial environment.

The impact of the use of nanostructured materials will be considered with a study of the potential exposure of workers to aero-suspended nanoparticles and forecasting prevention.

The project team, led by Porcelanas da Costa Verde company, brings together the Technological Center for Ceramics and Glass, with expertise in the development and validation of tableware products, and the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, a fully international research organization in Europe in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology.