Italian extrusion specialist Amut (Novara; www.amut.it) has been chosen by the University of Pisa’s engineering department as a partner on four plastics processing research projects which are being sponsored by the European Commission. The aim of the collaboration is to develop and test new polymers with specific eco-friendly characteristics that have been produced by renewable sources and recycled or biodegradable materials.

The four projects are: “Dibbiopack”, “Oli-pha”, “N-chitopack” and “Bioboard”. The “Dibbiopack” research is focused on nanocomposites based on lactic acid and nanoparticles, especially nanoclay, for producing packaging with high barrier properties to gas and humidity. The “Oli-pha” project is looking at poly-hydroxyl alkanoates of micro-seaweed for producing olive oil.

Activity in the latter two projects is centred on producing film. “N-chitopack” is researching packaging film based on polylactic acid and chitin nanofibres, while “Bioboard” is developing film based on protein derivatives from milk whey and potatoes.

Amut will provide its laboratory as well as some prototyped equipment, which has been specially designed for the research projects.