Goals:
PluriProtech's main goal was focused on the development of clothing solutions for active protection and comfort, specifically for military purposes, with the creation of a two-piece CBRN protective suit (jacket and pants) that fills the gaps existing in the market. The protective suit, developed by Fibrenamics, adequately meets the filtration needs of particles and radiological, biological, and chemical agents, at the macro- and nanometer scale and, simultaneously, acts in the degradation of these agents maximizing the protection of the user in environments with different levels of risk.

Innovation:
This suit enables the Portuguese Army to develop innovative products with a strong technological component, particularly regarding the development of active protective suits for use in a military context, for protection against radiological, biological, and chemical agents, enabling it to develop products with added value.

Learn more:
https://www.fibrenamics.com/en/projects/pluriprotech

The LH4Auto project aims to foster the development of innovative multifunctional products in a thermoplastic matrix with lighting and heating capabilities for application in automotive components. The design approach is supported by new technologies for the functionalization of polymeric substrates with lighting capacity through multi-layer deposition coating and new production technologies for the functionalization of components by integrating fibrous materials with the ability to conduct energy.

Goals:
This Fibrenamics project aims to develop technical-scientific skills and knowledge in functional coatings and multifunctional composite materials to create innovative solutions that meet the needs of the market and that respond to innovation trends in the automotive sector, such as reducing the weight/volume of products. components, the development of multifunctional materials and customized materials, and the sustained optimization of industrial productivity.

Innovation:
The LH4Auto resulted in innovative products for the automotive sector, specifically functionalized parts for application inside or outside the vehicles, especially the pillars, the door panels, or the instrument panel. It was also intended that this project, through the proposed innovation and its technological advantages, triggered a drag effect of technology for different industries, which includes heavy vehicles, aeronautics, naval, and railway interiors, among others, but also other areas such as interior architecture, housewares, and medical devices, allowing to diversify the range of applications.

Learn more:
https://fibrenamics.com/en/projects/lh4auto

From the desire to give life to this non-food milk, the MilkFibre, a Fibrenamics project, arises for the development of casein fiber that can be applied in the textile, food, or health sectors.

Goals:
The present project aims to create a Research and Development (R&D) Nucleus, whose main objective will be to carry out various research and development activities that allow obtaining the knowledge and skills necessary for the development of casein fiber, from non-food milk produced in the Azores region. It is intended that the results obtained may be able to trigger the use of fibers obtained in different fields of different applications, such as textile, food, and health, among others.

Innovation:
The project explores the separation of casein protein from milk, analyzing processes, methodologies, technologies, and associated materials for the production of fibers from the obtained protein. This production studied the macro and nano level and the functionalization of the obtained fibers (macro and nanofibers) analyzed, in order to give additional properties to them, such as topographic roughness, and antibacterial action, among others, therefore allowing the increase of the range of possible applications of the materials obtained.
Taking advantage of the knowledge and synergies created, the project also aims to generate opportunities for subsequent satellite projects, having as potential partners regional or national players that show interest in the topic of milk fiber.

Learn more:
https://www.fibrenamics.com/en/projects/milkfibre

Goals:
Financed by the Ministry of National Defense, the Portuguese consortium AuxDefense stands out for the development of new advanced military equipment of individual protection with high resistance to impact, cut, and perforation.
The AuxDefense project, developed by Fibrenamics, brings to the defense sector new high-performance ballistic helmets and vests, knee pads, and elbow pads in mechanical protection using nanotechnology and auxetic materials, based on biomimetic concepts.

Innovation:
More effective, lightweight, and ergonomic, ballistic helmets and vests and knee/elbow pads are designed to efficiently protect the military from the different branches of the Armed Forces in theater operations.
Based on the knowledge generated in the University of Minho over the last few years in fiber-based structures and auxetic materials, military equipment components have been developed with improved performance in terms of the absorption capacity of impact loads (explosions, ballistics…), cutting, and perforation, in order to more effectively protect the military.
The team involved also focused on ergonomic issues, having tested thermoregulatory functional materials and moisture managers, among others, to ensure comfort in the use of these innovative equipment.

Learn more:
https://www.fibrenamics.com/en/projects/auxdefense

This project, developed by Fibrenamics, consists of creating and developing braided composite rods – BCR – for concrete reinforcement (beams, columns, and, in the form of a network, slabs, and floors) and soil stabilization (nailing and anchors).

Goals:
The corrosion of steel requires the rehabilitation of all kinds of buildings. When used for the reinforcement of concrete, leads to its cracking and posting. In most aggressive environments such as sea-front buildings, this problem is even more serious, requiring a regular investment in the preservation and rehabilitation of structures. Moreover, the weight of the reinforcing materials has to be taken into consideration when planning a construction, whether it is the transport logistics, the handling, and the application in the construction, or whether it is the production or the application in strengthening concrete elements.
The braided composite rods (BCR) do not suffer corrosion, thereby eliminating the need for rehabilitation of buildings and presenting high durability. Moreover, this product is lighter than the steel rods commonly used nowadays for concrete reinforcement (the BCRs are 80% lighter than the steel rods). Therefore, BCRs eliminate the rehabilitation costs and reduce the logistics costs for transportation, handling, and application in construction. In addition, they allow the reinforcement of concrete elements in which the weight of the reinforcing material is a constraint.

Innovation:
BCRs are light bars with a high relation of rupture tension/specific weight allowing for the reinforcement of concrete elements, in which the weight material is a constraint. Their constituents are smart materials, capable of monitoring the structures’ stress stages through non-destructive testing “in situ”. They are produced with different materials according to the envisaged application possess ribbed surfaces and are developed in a single production step. The BCR possesses mechanical, physical, and chemical properties compatible with the requirements for concrete reinforcement features and therefore, the steel rods may be replaced by these BCRs eliminating the major problem associated with concrete reinforcement with steel–steel CORROSION. They are also indicated in the replacement of steel rods to stabilize soils.

Learn more:
https://www.fibrenamics.com/en/projects/bcr-braided-composite-rods