INNOVATIVE MATERIALS FOR INDUSTRY: R&D KRILLMAT

Krill Lab: the beating heart of innovation

Krill Lab is KRILLMAT’s Research and Development center dedicated to the design and validation of innovative materials and formulations for industrial applications.
This is where REKRILL® was born, the biopolymer resulting from research on agri-food by-products and proprietary technologies dedicated to biomass valorization.
Our R&D team collaborates with companies and industrial partners in the Research and Development of biopolymers, studying their characteristics and performance.

BIOPOLYMER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

The science behind REKRILL® materials

Thanks to our analysis and testing equipment, in the KRILL Lab laboratory we develop and validate new formulations, verifying their characteristics and performance throughout the entire development process.

We analyze every phase of the process (by-product, organic fillers, biopolymer, and finished product) to ensure quality and traceability of results.

The chemical, mechanical, and thermal tests allow us to define the behavior of the innovative materials developed and prepare them for the transition to industrial production.

LABORATORY ANALYSIS AND TESTING

Advanced analysis to develop innovative materials

In the KRILL LAB laboratory we use advanced instruments to characterize biomasses, organic fillers, and polymers. These analyses are fundamental in biopolymer research and development, because they allow us to define the composition and properties of different formulations.

Analysis and testing on by-products

Before the development process of new bio-based materials, we analyze the characteristics of the biomass to understand its structure and application potential.

TGA (Thermal Gravimetric Analysis).
Defines, in a thermal and quantitative way, the different components of the organic filler and serves to obtain a complete profile of the thermo-gravimetric composition of the filler. A weighed quantity of sample is brought to high temperatures and weight losses due to the elimination of moisture and volatile compounds, the decomposition of structural organic materials (cellulose, lignin, etc.) are analyzed, and finally, with oxidation in air, the mineral residue (ash) is quantified.
Particle size analysis with Camsizer.
Determines the size distribution and shape of particles, parameters necessary to predict the behavior of the filler in the compounding process.
Density measurement
Provides information on the compactness and internal structure of the material.
FIWE Advanced Fiber Auto Extractor
Analyzes the chemical composition of organic fillers, distinguishing the fractions of hemicellulose, lignin, and cellulose and thus understanding their nature and potential effect on the properties of the final material.

Analysis and testing on polymers

The formulations developed in the KRILLMAT R&D center undergo specific tests to evaluate the mechanical and thermal properties of innovative biopolymers.

Tensile mechanical tests
Measure elastic modulus, strength, and elongation at break. They indicate how rigid, strong, or elastic the material is when pulled.
Flexural test
Evaluates the polymer’s ability to resist a force that bends it. Used for rigid or loaded materials, where deformation is not only elastic.
Impact test
Determines how much energy the material can absorb before breaking from sudden impact; used to measure its toughness.
Melt Flow Index (MFI)
Measures the fluidity of the molten material: high values indicate polymers that flow easily, low values indicate more viscous materials.
HDT (Heat Deflection Temperature)
Measures heat resistance under stress: indicates the temperature at which the polymer deforms under a constant load.
Vicat softening temperature
Evaluates the stability of the sample at high temperatures: shows the temperature at which the material begins to soften.
DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry)
Analyzes thermal transitions such as melting temperature, crystallization, and glass transition, useful for identifying the structure and purity of the material.
TGA (Thermal Gravimetric Analysis)
Measures the change in mass as a function of temperature; used to evaluate thermal stability, decomposition, and additive content.
Density
Helps compare formulations, evaluate their composition, quality, and homogeneity.

To complete laboratory activities, a 320-ton injection press allows us to produce test specimens for testing and validate the material’s behavior before starting industrial production.

SPECIAL PROJECTS AND OPEN RESEARCH

When research becomes production

Krill Lab combines scientific expertise, laboratory technologies, and collaboration with trusted industrial partners to develop innovative materials and formulations dedicated to specific technical needs.

The KRILLMAT R&D team supports companies and research centers in the development and validation of new bio-based biopolymers, accelerating the path from research to application.
Open research also allows us to explore new food by-products and new material combinations to develop solutions increasingly suited to different industrial sectors.

Collabora&Innova Project

Together with the Politecnico di Milano and other industrial partners, Krill Lab studies the use of REKRILL® in rotational molding, a technology that requires specific formulations to achieve high performance. The project demonstrates the potential of biopolymers in the most advanced production technologies.

Let's develop new bio-based materials together

The KRILLMAT R&D team collaborates with companies and industrial partners in the research and development of biopolymers and innovative materials, from formulation definition to technical product validation.

Krill Lab

Production