Clay Science for Future Technologies

The core training and research objective of ClaySFT is to assemble a multi-sectoral, multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers to train 15 ESRs, and provide them with the skills necessary to create innovations in the materials science of clays. ClaySFT will provide ESRs with technological and method competence to enable them to advance the field of clay science in the wide range of areas where clays are essential, and later utilize the experience in their individual careers. The project topics belong to three overlapping areas of clay containing matter: Advanced moleculear sorption properties, mechanical and mass-transport properties, or electromagnetic and optical properties. The selection of ESR projects in ClaySFT reflect both immediate or long-term needs and will target: Advanced nanocomposites for light weight construction or for impact protection, non-toxic structural colorings of surfaces, paints or cosmetics, stability of emulsions for cosmetics or environmentally friendly improved oil recovery, cementitious eco-materials, CO2 capture, drug-delivery, nuclear waste storage, pollutant dynamics in clay containing soils, gas transport in clay liners and composites, and nano-lamellar frameworks for advanced functionalized hetero-structures. Each ESR will do at least 5 months of secondments with a nonacademic participant assuring that the developed know-how will respond to industrial needs. ClaySFT integrates experimental, theoretical and numerical methods, comprising scientists in materials-science,-physics,-chemistry and - engineering. ClaySFT includes non-academic beneficiaries ranging from SMEs, to large industries. All the 21 beneficiaries/ partner organizations from 9 European countries take part in ClaySFT’s 3 Research Schools, 3 Transferrable skills Schools, 2 Workshops and 1 Conference.