Arto Koistinen appointed as Professor of Materials Technology

“The professorship in materials technology is the culmination of my long career at the university. During my studies, I was already teaching laboratory work for lower-year students and, right after graduation, I was offered an opportunity to work in materials research,” Koistinen says.

In the early 2000s, the University of Kuopio was, under the leadership of Professor Reijo Lappalainen, tailoring its expertise and services for the needs of business and industry. Already then, Koistinen was involved in R&D projects with companies, and such projects are still a central part of his research philosophy. 

He has studied phenomena and developed methods for practical challenges. Koistinen is motivated to advance his field of research by its current importance, relevance to human and environmental health, and the acute need for industrial applications.

The safety, recyclability and life-cycle considerations of new materials require expertise in materials science. Moreover, the limited availability of raw materials is also a challenge, making their efficient use and reuse, and more sustainable materials in general, relevant targets for research and development. 

“The university’s recently launched technology programme is well aligned with this background: it is vital to enhance technology students’ skills to develop the operations of industry and companies,” Koistinen says.

Knowledge about microplastics has already led to changes in practices at the EU level

Koistinen is one of the pioneers of microplastics research in Finland, as he has been studying them since the mid-2010s. Microplastics research is currently focused on their occurrence in environmental and industrial matrices, as well as on the development of detection technologies. 

“We are developing analytical capabilities for increasingly small particles and studying increasingly challenging sample types. For instance, researchers from other fields of research are also extremely interested in the analysis of human tissue in this regard. The aim is also to significantly speed up the identification of particles,” Koistinen says.

“This requires multidisciplinary collaboration between experts in natural sciences and health sciences. There is an acute need for advanced analytical capabilities in industrial settings, for example.”

Microplastics research has already led to restrictions on single-use plastics, voluntary reductions in plastic use by companies and EU-level obligations imposed on plastic and water producers, among other things. 

“The development of analytical methods is important for industry actors, who may in the future be obliged to monitor the microplastic content of their products, emissions and effluents. Similarly, the bio-based materials for water purification that we are studying and testing can provide partial solutions for managing microplastics and preventing their entry into the environment.”

Researchers are studying how materials behave under different conditions, including the release of microplastics and their additives, while at the same time investigating sensing and removal methods for water purification. 

Monitoring of environmental and industrial pollutants and technology development require interdisciplinary expertise

“Materials technology has a wide range of applications, as we study, for example, the surface structures of materials, coatings and their industrial applications, as well as bio-based raw materials and materials for the circular economy," Koistinen says. 

The durability of materials can be increased by surface treatments and materials technology can be applied, for example, in developing new material solutions for 3D printing on an industrial scale. 

The suitability of materials must be studied under different conditions and in great detail. The development of state-of-the-art research infrastructure and related expertise for the needs of research and industry partners is therefore also essential.