U.Porto technology to be used by TMG Automotive
Innovative cork flooring, developed at U.Porto's Faculty of Engineering, was licensed to the Portuguese company in 2024
An innovative process developed at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), which makes it possible to provide sun protection to cork, was recently licensed to TMG Automotive, a Portuguese manufacturer of interiors for the automotive industry and a supplier of major OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers).
The project, which relies on the cork's pigmentation, was born out of Rita Almeida's PhD thesis in Chemical Engineering at FEUP and caught the attention of TMG, where the thesis was carried out. "We want to move forward with the industrial scale-up of this technology, ensuring that the process is optimized for large-scale production,” say the representatives of the company, which is also the co-holder of the patent application since 2024.
According to the contract signed between U.Porto and TMG Automotive, the latter will undertake to pay royalties to the University for the commercial use of the technology.
This solution coats cork with hematite nanoparticles, thereby protecting it from exposure to the sun. "Cork is a material that discolors quickly under the action of sunlight, which makes it unfeasible to use in places where it is exposed to the element,” says Rita Almeida. The researcher is no longer linked to FEUP and the project is now being carried out by Adélio Mendes, a lecturer and researcher at the university.
"The industrialization of this invention makes it possible to use a sustainable material in the automotive market, promoting more responsible solutions in line with environmental requirements,” explains Rita Almeida. In addition, hematite is an abundant, cheap, and environmentally safe material.
TMG Automotive already has a history of working with cork "to create innovative aesthetic concepts”, but, as the company's managers add, "preserving the original appearance of cork has been a challenge”. This approach therefore appears to be a "promising solution, as it meets the demanding requirements of the automotive industry and offers potential for applications on various vehicle interior surfaces.”
The next steps are to "optimize the formulation, carry out field tests and accelerated ageing tests,” says Adélio Mendes. It is hoped that, with this collaboration, "both entities will obtain a return from the work developed together, while continuing to strengthen the long-standing collaboration between the company and the University of Porto,” says TMG.
