Materials Science
MiCRA’s materials research capability has evolved significantly over the past decade, expanding from early polymer and metallic system development into a sophisticated, industry‑engaged platform supporting sectors such as beverages, diagnostics, and agri‑food. Today, our work focuses on translating complex material science into practical, commercially relevant solutions for industry partners.
A recent example is our collaboration with a beverage manufacturer, where MiCRA carried out comprehensive material and ingredient characterisation for a beverage manufacturer. This included identifying the root cause of unexpected functional behaviour in new drink formulations, using a combination of advanced spectroscopy, microscopy, and thermal analysis to provide chemical fingerprinting, surface morphology insights, and trace‑component identification. This project exemplifies how MiCRA supports industry by diagnosing formulation challenges, validating ingredient performance, and guiding reformulation based on evidence‑driven analysis.
Our Expertise Today
MiCRA now applies its materials science expertise across a wide range of industrial challenges, including:
- Characterisation of polymers, biopolymers, coatings, and functional surfaces
- Analysis of metallic and nanometallic systems, nanocomposites, and conductive materials
- Failure analysis, contaminant identification, and ingredient verification
- Structure–function relationships in food, beverage, bio‑based, and diagnostic materials
- Development and evaluation of sensor‑ready materials, surface chemistries, and bio‑functional coatings
Our Material Science Tools
MiCRA’s materials research is backed by an integrated suite of analytical technologies:
Scanning Electron Microscopy – SEM Phenom XL
High‑resolution surface imaging for morphology, defects, particle structure, and formulation stability assessment.
FTIR & FT‑Raman Spectroscopy – Bruker Alpha II, Bruker MultiRAM
Chemical fingerprinting, polymer/biopolymer analysis, formulation verification, contaminant identification, and ingredient mapping.
Near‑Infrared Spectroscopy – Bruker MPA II (NIR)
Rapid compositional profiling for food and beverage matrices, including moisture, solids, and functional ingredient signatures.
Thermal & Evolved‑Gas Analysis – PerkinElmer TGA‑IR‑GC/MS
Decomposition behaviour, stability profiling, volatiles identification, ingredient performance evaluation, and shelf‑life‑related studies.
Ion Chromatography – Dionex ICS‑6000
Trace component analysis in beverage systems, ingredient screening, and formulation troubleshooting.
Electrochemical Platforms – Multichannel Potentiostat
Evaluation of functional coatings, conductive surfaces, and sensor‑active materials.
How We Support Industry
Whether addressing formulation inconsistencies, validating new ingredients, ensuring material compatibility, or developing smart surfaces for diagnostics, MiCRA provides:
- Evidence‑driven material characterisation
- Rapid diagnostics of formulation and material‑based challenges
- Prototype development and performance testing
- Collaborative R&D focused on commercial outcomes