
MATERIALS ENGINEERING
New materials for new challenges
Proplast performs R&D activities for supporting the competitiveness of the industrial world

The use of innovative materials is a key factor for the companies, especially in a world context with a increasingly higher level of technical and economical competitiveness. Our researchers pays lot of attention on the most recent market trends and technological outcomes, and are able to develop or select new formulations for fulfilling the technical and regulatory requirements of all the industrial sectors, including the technical requirements of the several processing techniques (injection molding, extrusion, blow molding) and production ways (melt compounding, polymerisation).
Biopolymers
Using biopolymers in everyday life is an opportunity to build together a more sustainable future.
On that respect, our researchers have been developing in the last few years several eco-friendly products as an alternative to ‘traditional’ thermoplastics derived from fossil fuels.
- bio-based polymers
- biodegradable polymers
- low environmental impact products
3D Printing
3D Printing is acknowledged as one of the most innovative technologies, which have been developed in the last few years.
3D printing does not require mold tools: it is an additive manufacturing process, that creates a physical object from a digital 3D design file, by using a layer-by-layer deposition technique.
This technology is able to offer many advantages for the creation of custom-made products.
Proplast researchers have the right expertise to develop new formulations and tailor-made polymeric materials for FDM 3D printing.
Prototyping has never been so easy, quick and effective!
- formulation development
- prototyping
- Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Composites
Lightweight and high performance are the main features of fiber reinforced composites.
The possibility in obtaining high mechanical properties with a significant weight reduction is desirable for many industrial sectors. In this frame, thermoplastic composites allow one to take advantage of this interesting features and of the easiness of mass production connected to thermoplastic polymers.
Proplast has a wide experience in this field and is able to support all the companies who wish to use these materials.
- strength
- lightweighting
- high performance
Conductive polymers
Polymers are thermally and electrically insulating materials.
This hampers their use in many applications where the conductivity is needed, while their easy processability would make of them a highly desirable solution. For this reason, through the addition of specific fillers during the melt compounding step, customised products with suitable conductivity performances can be developed for different applications.
Twenty years of experience in polymeric materials development make Proplast your ideal partner for all activities of process and product engineering.
- compounding
- thermally conductive plastics
- electrically conductive plastics
- effect of processing conditions
Formulating materials for 3D printing
Consulting and development of materials for a variety of applications
Plastics end-of-life and recycling solutions
We can support our customers in several activities aimed to increase the environmental sustainability of plastic products.
- post-consumer plastics certification as secondary raw materials, in accordance to UNI 10667
- analytical and pilot-scale tests on end-of-life plastics in order to assess the possibility of their use in high added value products (example: grinded tyre scraps)
Compounding
Melt compounding is an easy, effective production technology: all you need is an extruder... and a robust knowledge of polymeric materials science and technology, of course. Through melt compounding the properties of plastic materials can be modified in order to reach your target in terms of durability (outdoor resistance), mechanical resistance (stiffness, impact properties), fire protection, thermal and electrical conductivity, esthetics (colour, gloss).
Our pilot lines allow us to supply customers with small-size batches of compounded products (from few Kg up to abt. 2-300 Kg) so that they can easily test the newly developed products at their facilities.
- flame retardant materials
- Reinforced grades
- UV-resistant formulations
- production of pilot series
Technologies and materials scouting
Thanks to our transversal knowledge of the plastics world and to our established network of partner companies in the sector of plastics producers, we can provide our customers with top notch support in the process of selecting the most appropriate materials for their application.
Our scouting and research can involve both materials and technologies.
- engineering polymers of technical parts
- bioplastics as a replacement of ‘traditional’ plastics
- packaging films and foils
- sheets and panels for the building and construction industry
- antistatic and conductive polymers
- fiber-reinforced composite materials
- advanced technologies for labelling and decoration
- processing technologies for thermoplastic composite materials
Regulamentary requirements and specific market needs
We can support our customers in developing products complying regulamentatory requirements and specifications of several industry sectors.
- food packaging
- building and construction
- toys
- drinking water applications