Description

On June 10, 1968, the National Research Council (CNR) of Italy, restructuring the "National Center for Macromolecular Chemistry" (CNCM), decreed the creation of the "Laboratory of Research on Polymers Technology and Rheology" (LTPR), located in Naples, that began his activity in 1969.
The lead personalities of Neapolitan scientific research, including Prof. Paolo Corradini (one of the main collaborators of the Nobel Prize laureate Prof. Giulio Natta), Prof. Alfonso Maria Liquori and Prof. Giovanni Astarita, contributed to the creation of LTPR.
LTPR was headquartered in Arco Felice (Na) along with three other CNR institutes, resulting in the creation of the first "research area" of CNR in Italy. The core aim of the new institute was the development of competences in the field of science and technology of polymers.
This objective was recognized by the Committee for Chemical Sciences and the deliberative bodies of CNR, as reflected by the primary objectives set out in the statute:
"... To correlate the chemical structure, the physical structure and the morphology of polymeric materials with thermodynamic, thermal, mechanical and rheological properties, in order to define a "system of structure/property relationships in polymeric materials " and then to develop a series of studies aiming at the improvement of technological properties and applications of polymeric materials ".
To identify these research topics it was taken in account that two different schools contributed to the foundation of LTPR, one with a purely chemical background, represented by the Chemistry Institute of the Faculty of Sciences of the University "Federico II" and the other with an engineering background, represented by the Institute of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, of the same university. This dualism is reflected by the composition of the first Scientific Council (CS): Prof. Paolo Corradini was appointed Chairperson of the CS while Prof. Alberto Ciferri was chosen as the Director.
On December 20, 1979 the Laboratory of Research on Polymers Technology and Rheology was promoted to the rank of Institute (ITPR). Subsequently, with a decree of 17 December 1993, the name was changed to: "Institute of Research and Technology of Plastics" (IRTeMP).
The decree included a new statute with a redefinition of the research plan and objectives that were reworded as: "... The Institute will carry out permanent and programmed research activities in the field of technology of plastics, in harmony with the general plans and directives of the CNR."
It is important to remember the origin of the Institute, as they represent at the same time the starting and arrival point of the new Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB) born March 1, 2014.
The branch of IPCB located in Catania was founded in 1981 with the name of ICTMP (Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Polymeric Materials) initially directed by Prof. Giorgio Montaudo. Also Prof. Montaudo contributed substantially to the development of polymer science. He can be counted, along with Corradini, Astarita and Liquori, among the founding fathers of the Italian school of macromolecular sciences that had its epicenter in southern Italy, contributing to its rise in the years 60/90. In October 2002, ICTMP and IRTEMP were merged into a single Institute: ICTP (Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Polymers).
The IMCB is officially active since October 12, 2001; In fact CNR during its reorganization, merged the Institute for Technology of Composite Materials (ITMC) of Naples and the Center for the Study of Multiphasic and Biocompatible Macromolecular Materials of Pisa. The headquarter was in Naples while Pisa and Trento (created in 2012) represented two separated branches (UOS).
The Institute for Technology of Composite Materials (ITMC), was created following the strong need to coordinate experience and knowledge in the field of advanced materials, carrying out its activities in close collaboration with the Department of Materials Engineering and Production (DIMP) of the University of Naples "Federico II", were it was hosted. The skills gained at the DIMP provided a fertile cultural substrate on which the core of the starting ITMC was based, and for the development of activities that were innovative and original with respect to many others inside CNR. An example is the science and technology of composite materials, which for over twenty years has been an authentic excellence of Italian research, projecting it at the international summit of strategic sectors such as aerospace and automotive.
The subsequent combination with Pisa UOS enriched the expertise of the Institute further consolidating its scientific strengths, both nationally and internationally.
Finally the creation of Trento UOS in December 2012 follows the need to combine the interest of the National Research Council, the University of Trento and the local industrial substrate.