FUZI

The project aimed to develop new intelligent materials capable of monitoring and reacting to changes in the surrounding environment. These materials, thanks to their ability to correlate electrical, chemical-physical and mechanical quantities, constitute the key elements of integrated systems for applications in the automotive, aeronautical, aerospace, microelectronics/biomedical and telecommunications sectors. The project was divided into three thematic areas: structural/semi-structural, physiological, and electromagnetic monitoring.
In the field of monitoring of structural and semi-structural components, polymer matrix composite systems were developed that could intelligently adapt to
external stresses through the use of piezoelectric materials and inorganic fillers. Furthermore, specific diagnostic and prognosis algorithms have been developed within a “structural health monitoring” methodology. For the automotive sector, functional composite systems with sensing and morphing properties have been created. For the aeronautical sector, a composite panel with a nano-filled thermoplastic grid and an integrated iFEM analysis and prognostics system have been developed.
In the field of physiological monitoring, micro- and nano-biosensors capable of monitoring physiological parameters (glucose and extravascular blood pressure) have been developed
using polymeric materials and “Printed Electronics” technologies.
In the field of electromagnetic wave shielding and detection, functional composites and a radome structure with frequency-selective surfaces (FSS) have been developed
through either the insertion of appropriate conductive layers into the fiber-reinforced composite or the use of inorganic fillers.