The Polytechnic University of Bari took part in the AIAS 2025 National Conference, held in Florence from September 3 to 5, within the MEAS session dedicated to energetic methods for experimental mechanics. The university contributed a scientific paper titled “Development of control procedures using active thermographic techniques for bio-based foams intended for automotive interior components”.
The research was presented by Davide Palumbo, professor at the Department of Mechanics, Mathematics and Management (DMMM) of the Polytechnic University of Bari.
The study was carried out within the ECOFRIEND project, funded by the PNRR under the national Scalability plan, and developed in collaboration with the Universities of Pisa and Bologna and Stellantis, a leading company in the European and global automotive industry.
New sustainable materials for the car of the future
The project aimed to develop bio-based foams, both rigid and flexible, designed for use in automotive interior components. These foams were produced using materials derived from renewable waste sources — such as used cooking oil — and subsequently compared in terms of thermophysical properties.
For material characterization, the research team employed active thermography techniques, which, through external excitation sources, make it possible to study the material’s thermal response and estimate key parameters such as thermal diffusivity.
This approach enabled non-destructive testing of innovative materials with strong potential for industrial application.
Toward standardization of tests on real components
Current scientific literature and existing standards — such as those for flash thermography — are generally limited to analyses conducted on samples of standardized size and geometry. However, such constraints make it difficult to directly apply these techniques to real automotive components.
To overcome this limitation, the work presented by Prof. Palumbo proposed new testing and data analysis procedures aimed at evaluating thermal properties even in non-standard materials and components.
Through comparative testing using different active thermographic techniques, the study identified a characteristic thermographic parameter capable of effectively describing the thermal behavior of the analyzed foams.
Applied research and industrial impact
The contribution of the Polytechnic University of Bari reaffirms the excellence and application-driven focus of the research conducted under the CO-SMART project, of which ECOFRIEND represents one of the flagship initiatives.
The collaboration with Stellantis also ensured a strong connection with industry needs, with particular attention to sustainability, safety, and innovation in materials.
