Functional Polymers and Coatings is a multidisciplinary department dedicated to the research and development of innovative products with functional and differentiated characteristics, to create innovation and value in different applications in sectors such as: construction & architecture, automotive & aeronautics, health, protection & well-being and food & bio-industry.

The following nuclear activities define the technological pillars of the department:

- Functional polymer coatings, through the exploration of different formulation technologies (thermal curing, UV curing, others) and development of coatings (wetcoating, films and lamination), with application in a multiplicity of rigid and flexible substrates (cork, metal, plastics, glass, ceramics, concrete, among others) to promote the characteristics and properties necessary to the demanding requirements of its final use;

- Synthesis and functionalization of polymers, aiming the development of new solutions in the polymer area and the customization for specific applications;

- Circular economy and eco-design, created to follow national and European political strategies for economic and environmental sustainability. Includes the exploration of strategies for the valorisation and functionalization of waste and by-products for the development of greener materials, and the reduction of ecological footprint of the developed polymer substrates / coatings, enhancing the industrial symbiosis;

- Simulation and performance evaluation, transversal nuclear activity, where mathematical models are explored to simulate different phenomena, and advanced performance evaluation methodologies are developed to meet the needs of the sectors and markets that will absorb the innovative products developed and duly validated.

The department of Functional Polymers and Coatings encompasses transversal skills and technologies in the different stages of development of innovative products with functional and differentiated properties, focusing on the R&D strategy for product valorisation, though solutions ecodesign, the assignment of differentiating features, the development of multifunctional polymer solutions, and the evaluation and validation of the innovative product performance, both during its development and final validation in the real environment.