LADICIM Welcomes Brazilian Researcher Túlio Panzera to Develop a Bio-Based Sandwich Panel Project
The Carolina Foundation, through its international research collaboration scholarship program, has facilitated the appointment of the professor from the Federal University of São João del-Rei.
The Laboratory of the Division of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Cantabria has welcomed Brazilian researcher Túlio Hallak Panzera to lead a project focused on developing fully bio-based sandwich materials, ideal for lightweight structural applications requiring high stiffness and thermal and acoustic insulation.
The Carolina Foundation, through its international research collaboration scholarship program, facilitated the appointment of Dr. Panzera, who holds a PhD in Mechanical Design and is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering at the Federal University of São João del-Rei (Brazil). His research focuses on advances in the development of sustainable and smart materials. His stay at LADICIM will last three months.
The research project he leads at the Laboratory, titled “Fully Biobased Multifunctional Sandwich Panels,” centers on developing composite sandwich materials with corrugated egg-shaped cores made from natural fibers and biopolymers. These panels feature aluminum faces and the possibility of incorporating a biofoam filling derived from castor oil. The primary goal is to create lightweight materials that offer high stiffness, strength, and excellent thermal and acoustic insulation properties. These multifunctional structures have potential applications in sectors such as automotive, construction, and aerospace. Carlos Thomas, professor at UC and researcher at LADICIM, states that this project “will strengthen the collaborative alliance” that the Laboratory has maintained with Professor Panzera and his university for the past ten years, enabling them to develop research projects and publish scientific articles.
“This new international collaboration promises to drive significant scientific advances. Leveraging our state-of-the-art facilities for testing provides Professor Panzera and his team with valuable data that will require detailed analysis. These results will form the basis for joint publications that will foster the launch of new projects and facilitate the integration of new researchers into our team.”
Patent Development and Sustainability
Túlio Panzera’s extensive international training—including two postdoctoral fellowships in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Bristol (UK), among other qualifications—along with his patent developments and commitment to sustainability, define his professional and research career.
In terms of applied research contributions, he holds four patents that cover the reuse of PET bottle caps and bamboo rings as core materials for sandwich panels; a sustainable fiber-metal laminate designed for applications in the aerospace, automotive, and construction industries; and cementitious composite materials specifically developed for the restoration of historic monuments built with carved stone.
The Brazilian researcher’s focus is on the development of sustainable materials, aligning with the growing demand for environmentally friendly solutions in today’s industry.
Since 2012, Panzera has collaborated closely with Professor Carlos Thomas, with whom he has co-authored 10 scientific articles focused on composite materials.
