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The "Consorzio Interuniversitario
per lo Sviluppo dei Sistemi a Grande Interfase" (Center for Colloid
and Surface Science) was established in Florence (Italy) on Dec 21,
1993, and is officially recognized by the Italian Ministry of the
University.
The President is Prof. Giovanni Marletta,
and the Director is Prof. Piero Baglioni.
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CSGI gathers eight Italian universities
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They joined their efforts in order
to bring their original contribution to Colloid & Interface Science.
More recently other research laboratories at the following universities
joined CSGI as affiliates:
The main goal of CSGI is the preparation
and study of new supramolecular “smart” devices and colloidal systems,
and the development of their different industrial applications such
as pharmaceutics, bio-medical, inks and paintings, oil and energy,
metallurgic, detergents, cosmetics, textile, paper, food industry,
de-polluting procedures, conservation of cultural heritage, and so
forth. CSGI is also intended to provide Industrial companies with
the basic scientific and technological knowledge to improve and optimize
specific industrial processes.
The theory of complex phenomena of dispersed systems has finally substituted
a multitude of empirical methods, and the use of standard pseudo-conventional
measurements. Today the optimization of the preparation and control
of dispersed systems can be considered sufficiently achieved. This
means that they can be extended to several other technological processes
involving different activities.
A typical example is the use of metallic, ceramic or composite nanoparticles.
Nanoparticle-related technologies will be a valid alternative to the
usual methods for the production of metallic materials, alloys, catalysts,
etc. The possibility of exploiting nanoparticles properties in the
solution of Engineering processes is particularly interesting, for
example in the substitution of expensive or strategic materials with
cheaper materials, characterized by the same performances, in the
production of new materials with highly innovative characteristics,
that cannot be obtained with conventional processes.
Sophisticated and interesting functions are shown by plurimolecular
associated structures, such as membranes, micelles, vesicles, liquid
crystals, monomer or polymer adsorption layers at the solid-liquid
or solid-gas interfaces. The development of these aggregated structures
is crucial for several different applications, such as supramolecular
catalysts, selective coupled trans-membrane transport systems, non-linear
optical properties, endoreceptors, polymers, metal or non-metal alloys
with particular properties (conducting, super-conducting, mechanical
or chemical). This kind of basic research is a fundamental premise
of the technological (or "pre-industrial") research.
CSGI is particularly devoted to the development of the following research
areas:
- Processes at the Interfaces
- Micellar Catalysis, Membrane
Catalysis, Clusters and Metallic Alloys, Supramolecular Systems
- Nanoparticles (Intermetallic
Alloys for Aerospace Industry; Metal Carbide, Metal Oxide, and Metal
Nitride Nanoparticles for tools; Polymeric Alloys; Super-plastics)
- Polymeric Lattices
- Polymerization in Emulsions and
Microemulsions
- Controlled Release of
Pharmacological and Non-pharmacological Products
- Microcompatimentalized Reaction
Sites (Micelles, Vesicles, etc.)
- Interfacial and Structural
Properties of Bio-surfactants, Biomolecules
- Gels, Formation of Gels and
Sol-Gel Transition
- Host-Guest and Self-Replicating
Systems
- Colloidal Dispersions (Drugs,
Inks, Varnishes, Metals, Coal, etc.)
- Micellar Solubilization
Processes of Polluting Agents
- Adhesion and Lubrication,
Structural and Rheological Properties of Epylamines
- Polymeric Foams (Composite
Materials, Shockproof and Fireproof Materials)
- Multicomponents Mixtures
(Paper, Plastics, Ceramics, etc.)
- Stabilization of Emulsions,
Microemulsions and Gel for Food, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Industries
- Interfacial Properties of
Textiles and Paper; Compatibility of Cellulose Fibers with other Natural
or Artificial Fibers
- Thermodinamic and Rheological
Properties of Polyphasic Systems
- New Materials from Oriented
Supramolecular Structures
- Detergency.
CSGI promotes research projects and high level
educational training in the field of Colloid and Surface Science in
collaboration with other Universities, Research Centers and Industries,
with the scientific contribution of the European Union, of the Italian
Ministry of University and Scientific Research.
Every year all CSGI members gather together for the Annual Meeting,
where the scientific results are presented and discussed, as oral communications
or poster presentations. The 2002, 2003, and 2004 Meetings were held
in Campobasso, Pavia and Cagliari. |
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