Accueil > Industry

Polymers and composites

Our teams support your R&D department in obtaining polymers and composites that are resistant, lighter, of higher quality and eco-designed. We combine our expertise in heat transfer, mechanics and materials and develop custom test benches.

Our laboratory and on-site analyses and tests provide detailed understanding of your materials: thermosetting polymers, thermoplastics, semi-crystalline, fiberglass and carbon fiber composites.

Advanced characterization of polymers and composites

Detailed understanding of the structure and properties of polymers, thermoplastics, and composites to optimize your final products or explain their failures

Structural analysis: microscopy, rate of polymerization, crystallinity, molecular orientation of polymer chains
Chemical analyses: nature and proportion of components (EDX, DRX, DSC, TGA, etc.) and surfaces (XPS, FTIR, etc.)
Thermal analyses: phase changes, degradation, oxidation, dilatation, pyrolysis
Mechanical analyses: hardness, density, fatigue, aging
Assessments: failure analysis, aging, reverse engineering, non-destructive testing

Thermal analysis of materials and manufacturing processes

Analyzing the thermal properties of your solid and liquid materials in the laboratory or on site, under conditions closest to the process

Volume and thermal expansion: PVT measurements for thermosetting polymers and thermoplastics, chemical shrinkage, evolution of a resin’s thermomechanical properties
Kinetic models: identifying parameters, polymerization, crystallization, vulcanization, kinetic reactions of glues
Conductivity, effusivity, diffusivity: thermal resistance, thermal conductivity of anisotropic composite materials
Rheology: viscosity of reactive systems, rheograms, measurements on complex fluids

Thermal instrumentation and multiphysics modeling of processes

Optimizing your machines’ performance and settings by digitally modeling your industrial processes

Instrumentation: thermal mapping, temperature differences in products, experimental benches, and custom sensors
Simulation and modeling: product/machine temperature prediction, thermo-kinetic digital models
Curing optimization: optimal temperature cycles, topology optimization, optimizing process settings (making reductions in temperature, cycle time, energy consumption, etc.)

Durability and aging of composite materials

Studying the resistance of your monolithic and sandwich composite structures in operating conditions: temperature, humidity, fatigue, creep, etc.

Custom tests and instrumentation: fiber optics, strain gauges, force sensors, displacement sensors, image correlation
Fatigue of composite structures: tensile, bending and compression testing, fracture surface analysis, fatigue limit
Aging of composites: testing in extreme conditions and in a marine environment; thermal, UV, and hygrothermal aging

Reusing and recycling polymers and composites

Assisting your ecological transition by identifying the processes for sorting, recycling and reusing polymers and composites that are adapted to your use

Ecodesign: how incorporated recycled materials impact product characterizations
Sorting and separation: benchmarking, separating multi-material assemblies, feasibility tests
Physicochemical and thermal properties of fibers and recycled materials for reuse in classic processes
Benchmarking and tests: searching for recycled or recyclable materials that can substitute your materials
Adding value: studying the reutilization of carbon fibers for energy; construction and civil engineering; industry

Advanced characterization for additive manufacturing

Making the 3D printing process reliable: understanding interface phenomena, improving adhesion, reducing the finished product’s residual constraints

Physicochemical characterization: microstructural and chemical composition, porosity, hardness, adhesion, crystalline interface structures
Thermal characterization: density, specific heat, thermal conductivity, rheology of polymers
Printing processes: custom test benches, metrology, thermal uniformity, optimizing the adhesion of high-temperature plastic strings
Simulation and modeling: FFF and AFP processes, adhesion prediction
Durability and aging: hygro-thermo-mechanical testing, UV aging, TGA, mechanical characterization

Challenges we’ve met

Modelling the heat transfer of injection moulding processes

Determining the thermal conductivity of an injected composite during moulding

Contributing to the development of a new aeronautical composite material

A tailor-made strategy and testing resources

Composites testing for the aerospace industry

From the test bench to CME measurement analyses

Concrete on Cruise Ships

Comparative characterization of cementitious construction materials

Need an innovative and resourceful partner?

Capacités teams inspire, harness and couple numerous cutting-edge skills covering a wide range of applications and expertise to meet all of your innovation needs with passion and commitment!

or send us a message:

Accueil > Industry

Mechanical testing on composite materials

Composite materials are known for their ability to make structures lighter and are valued in aeronautics, the naval industry, nautical sports, etc. They are used for manufacturing strategic parts and must demonstrate resistance to intense mechanical stress.

We know that securing the mechanical behavior of your innovative materials and assemblies is crucial. We specialize in multiple-property mechanical testing (mechanical, thermal, hygrometry, etc.) and custom create robust economic test fixtures.

Our testing services in Nantes and Saint-Nazaire

Our R&D engineers are intent on applying their scientific rigor in conducting your standardized or complex tests.
Their objective is to approve the strength of your composite parts and prototypes, even in extreme conditions. Our service is complete, from defining test specifications to interpreting results.

Static strength tests

Entrusting a local laboratory with your standardized static or custom-developed tests.

Fatigue tests

Fatigue characterization of your composite materials. Determining your parts’ lifetime behavior and damage tolerance.

Controlled force and/or displacement tests
Fatigue strength: tensile – compression, bending
Measuring and monitoring strain (fiber optics, digital image correlation, strain gauges)
Measuring internal strain (XRD, fiber optics)
Resistance to fracture and fatigue limit – impact of failure on fatigue resistance
Failure mode analysis (SEM or digital microscope)

Complex tests in an aggressive environment

Determining composite materials’ strength when exposed to an aggressive environment: immersion, intense heat or humidity, UV exposure, etc.

Custom test benches

Designing custom test benches that are adapted to your composite structures, from centimeter-sized samples to parts that are several meters long.

Aging tests

We provide you with reliable accelerated aging data to approve models that can predict your composites’ behavior.

Fatigue and additive manufacturing

Using appropriate static and dynamic characterizations to determine the durability and reliability of your additively manufactured parts.

Dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA) and fatigue testing
Roughness measurements
Tensile tests, bending tests, constitutive laws for material behavior: elastic limit, breaking limit, elongation
Photoaging (QUV,UV)
Quality control (microscopy, colorimetry and gloss)
Hygrothermal aging

Composite assembly fatigue

Identifying fatigue resistance of welded, glued, bolted/screwed, or multi-material assemblies, in order to reduce residual stresses more effectively.

Analysis of fatigue failure morphology
Failure and fatigue limit tests
Bond strength
Taking account stress concentrations, residual stresses, etc
Taking surface quality into account
Finishing operations for improving fatigue resistance through heat treatment

Challenges we’ve met

Contributing to the development of a new aeronautical composite material

A tailor-made strategy and testing resources

Composites testing for the aerospace industry

From the test bench to CME measurement analyses

Need an innovative and resourceful partner?

Capacités teams inspire, harness and couple numerous cutting-edge skills covering a wide range of applications and expertise to meet all of your innovation needs with passion and commitment!

or send us a message:

Accueil > Industry

Analysis and characterisation of materials

Industry, Sea / environment

Our experts offer a complete range of engineering, development and characterisation of materials.

The skills of our teams are combined with the expertise and exceptional technical resources of research laboratories from Nantes Université (France). We use a broad range of measurement and testing equipments including almost 220 devices. This enables us to offer a wide variety of tests and analyses dealing with the different properties of materials: physical-chemical, structural, mechanical, optical, thermal, etc.

This engineering and characterisation offer applies to all types of materials: metallic, polymer and composite, organic, cement and ceramic. Thus, we provide a global, reactive and local offer in response to your technical issues and innovation projects regarding materials and their performance.

Summary

Services

Benchmarking, advice

Expertise

Tests

Characterization

R&D projects

Whatever your challenges, our experts deliver functional and innovative solutions.

Characterisation of metallic materials

The forming processes and conditions of use of metallic materials and alloys are interdependent on their properties. Our materials engineers develop and perform the pertinent tests to determine the properties of your materials or the cause of their failure in order to optimise the choice of materials or manufacturing processes.

In a nutshell

Microscopies

Mechanical properties

Thermal properties

Implementation processes

Expertise of failure

Mechanical properties

Thermal properties

Implementation processes

Audit of existing industrial processes
Support for the implementation of new processes
Development of forming process parameters (welding, additive manufacturing)
State of the art
Benchmark: identification and recommendation of processes

Expertise – Failure

Origin of a rupture or premature wear (brittle, ductile, fatigue) by analysis of the facies
Identification of micro-structures to trace mechanical, chemical or thermal treatments
Chemical analysis to determine the cause of corrosion (nature of the oxide, search for pollutants)
Analysis of defects on welds and parts made by additive manufacturing (porosity, hardness, micro-structures, chemical composition, oxidation) and recommendations on process parameters
Non-destructive testing (NDT)

Assemblies and surface functionalisation

From the reliability of surface preparation processes to the inspection of welded, bonded or coated assemblies, our experts will help you to control and improve your current processes. Understanding the phenomena at the interfaces is essential to address industrial issues related to assembly of materials and perfomance of coatings.

In a nutshell

functional materials

surface treatments

Process qualification

Characterisation

substitution of Chromium(VI)

Failure analysis

Surface texturing and functionalisation expertise

Process qualification cleaning / degreasing / bonding / painting

Audit of the current process, benchmark of alternative solutions
Topographical and physico-chemical analysis
Characterisation of assemblies or coatings (glued studs, 90° peeling, thicknesses, corrosion)
Standard industrial controls
Study of degreasing performance, adhesion performance
Improvement of the current process

Polymer metallisation – substitution of Chromium(VI)

State of the art and benchmark, identification of suppliers
Search for solutions adapted to your process – technical and economic approach
Characterisation and evaluation of associated performance and tests
Support for the implementation of the solution

Failure analysis

Characterisation of coated surfaces and assemblies

Determination of microstructures and curing processes
Qualitative and quantitative elemental analysis
Determination of inclusion and porosity rates
Hardness of materials or welded assemblies
Static and dynamic mechanical tests
Heat treatments under controlled atmosphere(s)
Coefficient of expansion
DSC, TGA transition temperatures

Study of polymers and composites

We identify the structure and properties of your polymers and thermoplastics. The aim: to optimise your manufacturing processes, improve your finished products or explain their failures. To do this, we carry out physico-chemical analyses and assess your products at the various stages of their shaping or use.

In a nutshell

Advanced characterisation

Thermal analysis

Thermal instrumentation

Multiphysics modelling

Durability – Aging

Reuse and recycling

Additive manufacturing

Characterisation of ceramic materials

With the support of IMN researchers, our materials experts identify and characterise solid and powdered ceramic materials and determine their physical, chemical and structural properties. Our engineers have the necessary experience to carry out investigations in order to understand the possible failures of ceramic materials.

In a nutshell

Chemical analysis

microstructural analysis

Physical properties

NDT

Determination of porosity and specific surface
Particle size analysis of powders
Chemical composition and crystallographic analysis
Nanoparticles: TEM observation
SEM electron microscopy analysis

Physical properties

Mechanical tests (fatigue, creep, Charpy impact, bending, tension, compression)
Optical properties
Electrical and electromagnetic properties
Expansion
Thermal conductivity
Resistance of materials to cracking during thermal cycling

Expertise – Failure

Concrete formulation and analysis

Whether you are in the pre-certification phase or during the construction phase, our tests determine the mechanical and physico-chemical properties of your materials, in the laboratory or on site. Our equipment enables us to characterise a wide range of properties: strength, thermal insulation, permeability, etc.

In a nutshell

Characterisation of concrete

Formulation

low-impact concretes

pathology expertise

Durability

Resistance to the marine environment

Formulation of resistant concretes in the marine environment

Development of low-impact concretes

Formulation of eco-materials, fibre-reinforced concrete based on plant fibres, industrial co-products, sediments, recycled concrete, etc.
Physical characterisation of sands and aggregates: modulus of fineness, density and absorption coefficient
Leaching tests: characterising the release of polluting substances
Durability and aging tests
Benchmark, search for ways to valorise

Durability of concrete structures

Mechanical testing of concrete

Flexural strength, compressive strength, tensile strength
Strength of concrete by splitting materials (presses up to 1000kN)
Elasticity measurements
Fatigue tests
Mechanical testing, instrumentation and monitoring, on a large scale (30m² slab)

Concrete pathology expertise

Internal sulphate reaction analysis
Alkali reaction of aggregates
Accelerated reaction tests, within 30 days
Microstructural analysis – SEM, TEM imaging
X-ray diffraction, spectroscopic analysis
Pore distribution: mercury porosimetry

Engineering at CAPACITÉS

Our materials experts perform their engineering duties in the very research laboratories of Nantes Université themselves, most notably at GeM and IMN. They strive to combine technical resources and scientific discovery to meet your R&D needs.

Challenges we’ve met

Modelling the heat transfer of injection moulding processes

Determining the thermal conductivity of an injected composite during moulding

Analyzing and improving surface preparation

Characterizing surface quality and its impact on coating adherenc

Contributing to the development of a new aeronautical composite material

A tailor-made strategy and testing resources

Determining the properties of a thermal barrier

Characterizing a material layer that is inseparable from its assembly

Concrete on Cruise Ships

Comparative characterization of cementitious construction materials

Need an innovative and resourceful partner?

Capacités teams inspire, harness and couple numerous cutting-edge skills covering a wide range of applications and expertise to meet all of your innovation needs with passion and commitment!

or send us a message:

Accueil > Industry

Strength of Materials and Structural Monitoring

Industry, Sea / environment

Our experts develop strategies for mechanical tests and innovative instrumentation that help you understand, improve and anticipate the mechanical behavior of materials and structures.

We provide support for your R&D projects by carrying out complex, multi-scale or multi-property tests with assistance from laboratories at Nantes Université. Our teams are recognized for their ability to develop custom test benches and design new monitoring strategies for your materials and structures.

We take part in your projects in the lab as well as on-site, from carrying out structural health monitoring (SHM) to using artificial intelligence to predict maintenance operations. Our expertise in composite materials and civil engineering structures in the marine environment is unparalleled.

Summary

Services

Benchmarking, advice

Characterization

Multi-scale tests

Simulation

R&D projects

Whatever your challenges, our experts deliver functional and innovative solutions.

Mechanical testing on composite materials

We can conduct your static and dynamic tests at different scales: from centimeter-sized test tubes to parts that are several meters long. Our experts use inventive strategies to secure the mechanical behavior of your composite parts, structures and assemblies. Our test benches are custom developed so you can carry out complex tests and measure the fatigue and aging of composites.

In a nutshell

Static tests

Fatigue

Aging

Complexe tests in aggressive environments

Custom test benches

Characterization and testing on concrete and cementitious materials

Our tests provide you with the mechanical and physiochemical properties of your materials, whether they are in the lab during a preliminary certification phase or on site during construction. We have a fleet of equipment for characterizing materials and their properties of mechanical strength, thermal insulation, permeability, etc.

In a nutshell

CHARACTERISATION

FORMULATION

LOW-IMPACT CONCRETES

DURABILITY

RESISTANCE TO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

PATHOLOGY EXPERTISE

Formulation of resistant concretes in the marine environment

Development of low-impact concretes

Formulation of eco-materials, fibre-reinforced concrete based on plant fibres, industrial co-products, sediments, recycled concrete, etc.
Physical characterisation of sands and aggregates: modulus of fineness, density and absorption coefficient
Leaching tests: characterising the release of polluting substances
Durability and aging tests
Benchmark, search for ways to valorise

Durability of concrete structures

Mechanical testing of concrete

Flexural strength, compressive strength, tensile strength
Strength of concrete by splitting materials (presses up to 1000kN)
Elasticity measurements
Fatigue tests
Mechanical testing, instrumentation and monitoring, on a large scale (30m² slab)

Concrete pathology expertise

Internal sulphate reaction analysis
Alkali reaction of aggregates
Accelerated reaction tests, within 30 days
Microstructural analysis – SEM, TEM imaging
X-ray diffraction, spectroscopic analysis
Pore distribution: mercury porosimetry

Soil mechanics – erosion in dikes and embankments

Dikes and embankments are subject to intense stress, including exposure to fresh or sea water. This can weaken them over time and lead to serious damage. To prevent risks, we carry out applicable erosion and mechanical tests on civil engineering structures in soil. We use the data to model internal and external erosion phenomena and provide necessary information to infrastructure managers.

In a nutshell

erosion tests

digital modelling

erosion phenomena

mechanical tests

triaxial – shear – oedometry

physical characaterization

Erosion prevention

Mechanical testing

Physical characterization tests

Structural Health Monitoring

Our team provides measurement and instrumentation services for your parts, structures and prototypes made of composite materials and innovative materials and alloys. We are unmatched in designing tailor-made sensors for measuring force, displacement, pressure and resistance to strain. Our innovative, solid monitoring strategies are often more economical than standard business solutions.

In a nutshell

Strain tests

Instrumentations

Custom sensors

Optical fiber

Innovative measurement technologies

Strain measurement

Distorsion, wireless or not
Non-Contact Displacement Sensors
Force sensors
Pressure
Torque
Load and weight
Temperature

On-site instrumentation

Installation of strain jauges on different materials
Optic fiber measures
Measurements with digital image correlation
Real-time monitoring
Non destructive structural diagnostic
Mesuring campaign

Conception of custom sensors

Monitoring by optical fiber sensors

Predicitve maintenance and AI

Determination of critical parameters
Data pre-processing, qualitative and quantitative analysis of data
Machine learning, probabilistic modeling
Data visualisation
Real-time tracking and alerts
Software, web and mobile application developement

Monitoring in marine environment

Concrete structures, like other civil engineering structures, are subject to environmental stress and different types of use-related mechanical stress, which can damage them over time. To prevent risks, we help infrastructure managers identify and understand their materials’ pathologies and monitor their structures by using precise instrumentation coupled with artificial intelligence algorithms.

In a nutshell

Concrete pathology

Porosity

Permeability

Multi-parameter tests

Preventive maintenance

Bio-colonisation monitoring

Tests of durability in maritime environment

Monitoring of civil engineering works

Predictive analysis

Marine growth on offshore structures

Engineering at CAPACITÉS

Our materials experts perform their engineering duties in the very research laboratories of Nantes Université themselves, most notably at GeM. They strive to combine technical resources and scientific discovery to meet your R&D needs.

Challenges we’ve met

Contributing to the development of a new aeronautical composite material

A tailor-made strategy and testing resources

Concrete on Cruise Ships

Comparative characterization of cementitious construction materials

Capacités’ experts instrument helicopter blades

Fiber optics as a measurement tool

Capacités Instruments the Rigid Sail: Solid Sail 2.0

Custom instrumentation in a marine environment

Need an innovative and resourceful partner?

Capacités teams inspire, harness and couple numerous cutting-edge skills covering a wide range of applications and expertise to meet all of your innovation needs with passion and commitment!

or send us a message:

Accueil > Industry

Analytical chemistry : NMR, 2D NMR, IRMS

Industry, Life science, Sea / environment

Our experts in analytical chemistry provide your projects with exceptional technical resources and know-how.

Our Capacités experts in analytical chemistry have developed an exceptional know-how in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1D NMR and 2D NMR) and in Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS).
Access to a large pool of equipment allows us to support industrial projects, from sample preparation to characterization.

We are specialized in very high precision quantification projects and in the analysis of complex matrices. We help our clients to innovate in the study of metabolism, the fight against counterfeiting, the determination of the purity of active molecules, or the monitoring of chemical transformations.

Summary

Services

Strategy and consulting

Diagnosis and selection

Process development

Quality control

Development of methods

Metabolomic and lipidomic analyses

Validate a therapeutic target or refine the description of a pathology through the identification and qualification of biomarkers responsible for changes between two states.

Our experts master different types of analyses of biological samples. They perform targeted and non-targeted profiling and highlight changes between states of the biological matrices studied.

In a nutshell

Targeted analysis

Metabolomic profiling

Metabolic Footprint

Analysis of matrices

Data processing

Structural elucidation by screening of unknowns: NMR, mass spectrometry (low and/or high resolution), mainly in LC-MS: HPLC-MSn base resolution, HPLC-DAD-MSn high resolution, HPLC-UV, HPLC-FLR, GS-MS, UV-vis and NIR
On-line monitoring of chemical and biochemical transformations by benchtop NMR
Dosing : pigment by spectrometry, proteins by colorimetric method, total bones by colorimetric method
Performing statistical analyses such as PCA and PLS-DA

Metabolomic profiling

Metabolic Footprint

Analysis of matrices

Metabolic or lipidomic extracts obtained from animals or plant matrices, bacteria, etc.
Biofluids: urine, blood, plasma, culture supernatants, etc.
Validation of regulatory status for commercial pure molecules
Synthesized or manufactured molecules not available on the market
Internal reference substances

Data processing

Quantitative NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance)

Our expertise is to qualify reference substances, determine the purity of molecules and certify their compliance with international quality standards.

Our experts assist pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies in certifying the purity of their reference molecules using NMR methods.

In a nutshell

NMR acquisition parameters

NMR processing parameters

Method validation and parameter verification

Product origin authentification

Optimization of the NMR tool

Measurement of longitudinal relaxation time
Recording of NMR spectra with a very high signal/noise ratio
13C decoupling to avoid the appearance of satellites, etc.
Quantitative 1H NMR with very high precision and accuracy (<0.1%)
High precision multi-dimensional quantitative NMR

NMR processing parameters

Method validation and parameter verification

Product origin authentification

Optimization of the NMR tool

Publication

Didier G. Diomande, Estelle Martineau, Alexis Gilbert, Pierrick Nun, Ariaki Murata, Keita Yamada, Naoharu Watanabe, Illa Tea, Richard J. Robins, Naohiro Yoshida, and Gérald S. Remaud Position-Specific Isotope Analysis of Xanthines: A 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Method to Determine the 13C Intramolecular Composition at Natural Abundance.v

Analytical Chemistry 2015 87 (13), 6600-6606. DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b00559

Quantitative 2D NMR (2D nuclear magnetic resonance)

Development of fast and quantitative 2D NMR acquisition methods.

Our experts have developed a protocol for the implementation of targeted and non-targeted metabolic and lipidomic studies.

In a nutshell

Rapid quantification for metabolomics and lipidomics

Quantification of polysaccharides by 2D NMR

Concentration measuring of the small molecules in complex samples
Exploitation of standard addition methods
Development of quantitative approaches for polysaccharide analysis
Profiling of biological matrices
Targeted and non-targeted analyses

Rapid quantification for metabolomics and lipidomics

Quantification of polysaccharides by 2D NMR

Characterization of molecular structures
Development of powerful quality control methods
Measurement of polysaccharide concentration
Molecular behavior studies
Development of the quantification method
Definition of the optimal analytical workflow

Publication

Estelle Martineau, Serge Akoka, Renaud Boisseau, Benoît Delanoue, and Patrick Giraudeau. Fast Quantitative 1H–13C Two-Dimensional NMR with Very High Precision. Analytical Chemistry 2013 85 (9), 4777-4783

Estelle Martineau, Kamel El Khantache, Marion Pupier, Patricia Sepulcri, Serge Akoka, Patrick Giraudeau, Non-linear effects in quantitative 2D NMR of polysaccharides: Pitfalls and how to avoid them, Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, Volume 108, 2015, Pages 78-85, ISSN 0731-7085

Estelle Martineau, Jean-Nicolas Dumez, Patrick Giraudeau. Fast quantitative 2D NMR for metabolomics and lipidomics: A tutorial Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry. 04 June 2019

IRMS (Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry)

To analyze the 13C, 15N, 2H, 18O and 34S isotopes present in organic matter, for a better understanding of metabolism in the fields of health and nutrition.

The mastery of compound-specific analysis allows to obtain 13C and/or 15N profiles of different matrices.

In a nutshell

Average isotopic composition by EA-IRMS

GC-IRMS analyse

Publication

Tea, I., Martineau, E., Antheaume, I. et al. ¹³C and ¹⁵N natural isotope abundance reflects breast cancer cell metabolism. Sci Rep 6, 34251 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep34251

Olivier L Mantha, Caroline Goupille, Jean-François Dumas, Richard Robins, Philippe Bougnoux, Régis Hankard, Arnaud De Luca, Natural isotopic abundances as markers of compliance in clinical trials, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 111, Issue 5, May 2020, Pages 1109–1110

Tea I, Le Guennec A, Frasquet-Darrieux M, Julien M, Romek K, Antheaume I, Hankard R, Robins RJ. Simultaneous determination of natural-abundance δ15N values and quantities of individual amino acids in proteins from milk of lactating women and from infant hair using gas chromatography/isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 2013 Jun 30;27(12):1345-53.

Engineering at CAPACITÉS

Our Analytical Chemistry experts perform their engineering duties in the very research laboratories of Nantes Université themselves, most notably at CEISAM. They strive to combine technical resources and scientific discovery to meet your R&D needs.

Challenges we’ve met

Quantification of polysaccharides by 2D NMR

Developing a quick quantitative method in two-dimensional NMR

Need an innovative and resourceful partner?

Capacités teams inspire, harness and couple numerous cutting-edge skills covering a wide range of applications and expertise to meet all of your innovation needs with passion and commitment!

or send us a message:

Accueil > Industry

Thermal analysis: characterization, instrumentation, simulation

Industry, Sea / environment

We characterize and model heat transfer to help you improve your materials, products and manufacturing processes.

Measuring and simulating heat transfers to improve the thermal performance of your product or process is the heart of our expertise. Thanks to tests, analyzes and simulation performed at the level of the constituent, the material or the final product, we guide you in your choices and in the optimization of your forming processes.

Depending on the requirements of your projects or issues, our experts can characterize your products, design original test benches, imagine tailor-made instrumentation campaigns in the laboratory or on site and develop specific simulation tools.

Summary

Advanced thermal characterization of materials

Equipped with a wide range of thermal characterization devices, either commercial instruments or specifically developed experimental benches, our engineers take care to characterize the thermal properties of your solid and liquid materials under the closest conditions of your process, according to actual conditions of manufacture and use of your products.

In a nutshell

Conduction

Calorimetry

Volume evolution

Radiative properties

rheology – degradation

Calorimetry

Volume evolution

Radiative properties

Rheology and degradation

Modelling, Thermal simulation

We offer solutions for modeling heat transfer on processes, taking into account possible couplings with other physics. Our modeling expertise, combined with our thermal experience, allows to size, understand, or even optimize your industrial processes.

In a nutshell

Comparative studies

Design assistance

Thermal phenomena

Prediction of defects

Thermal optimization

Understand thermal phenomena

Optimization

Development of integrated metrology solutions

We develop personalized metrology solutions, ranging from on-site thermal instrumentation, to the development of specific sensors or protocols, to the design of original experimental benches. Based on our experience in thermal metrology, we strive to carry out measurements under conditions closest to the actual process, while installing the least intrusive sensors.

In a nutshell

Thermal instrumentation

specific sensors

experimental benches

sizing and instrumentation

Development of specific sensors and protocols

Design of original experimental benches

Composite forming : thermal analysis of processes

From the advanced characterisation of your composite materials to the optimisation of the thermal parameters of your forming processes, we bring to your R&D projects our advanced scientific expertise.

In a nutshell

Conductivity

Thermal expansion

Rheology

Radiative properties

Welding thermoplastic composites

simulation

Engineering at CAPACITÉS

Our research laboratories

Our materials experts carry out their engineering work directly in the research laboratories of Nantes Université, notably at LTeN. On a daily basis, they combine technical resources and scientific discoveries to meet your R&D challenges.

Certified Consultant

As certified consultants with COMSOL Multiphysics, we use our experience with this software to provide solutions for a wide range of thermal simulation projects.

Challenges we’ve met

Composites materials: numerical simulation of injection processes

Characterizing the volume shrinkage of composites during the SMC process

Thermal sensors for Airbus Helicopters

Capacités’ experts push the limits of thermal measurement

Modelling the heat transfer of injection moulding processes

Determining the thermal conductivity of an injected composite during moulding

Increasing the energy efficiency of industrial processes

Instrumentation and simulation of the elastomer’s curing and shaping process

Contributing to the development of a new aeronautical composite material

A tailor-made strategy and testing resources

Determining the properties of a thermal barrier

Characterizing a material layer that is inseparable from its assembly

Need an innovative and resourceful partner?

Capacités teams inspire, harness and couple numerous cutting-edge skills covering a wide range of applications and expertise to meet all of your innovation needs with passion and commitment!

or send us a message:

Accueil > Industry

Forming of composites: thermal analysis of processes

Fully understanding heat transfer in forming processes for polymers and composite materials is a major industrial factor.

Our work ranges from characterizing your composite materials to optimizing thermal parameters for your manufacturing processes. Throughout the course of our aerospace projects, we have acquired unique know-how for understanding and optimizing the heat transfers involved in welding composite materials.

Our engineering and R&D services

Our PhD engineers conduct cutting-edge research in heat transfers and put their scientific expertise to use for your R&D projects. They use innovative techniques to meet your industrial needs: process optimization, maximizing product quality, superior assembly performance.

Conductivity – Effusivity – Thermal Diffusivity

Characterizing thermal conduction properties in conditions representative of processes.

Volumetric shrinkage – Thermal dilation

Understanding the coupling between thermal and chemical effects through the precise characterization of volumetric variations of polymers and composites.

Alpha-PVT: chemical shrinkage of a thermosetting matrix
3D PVT: anisotropic chemical shrinkage of composites
Thermoplastic PVT: PVT Diagrams – crystallization shrinkage – Tait model – crystallization under pressure
Thermal expansion coefficients on uncured, rubbery or glass resin
Bulk modulus evolution of resin while curing

Rheology

Determining resin viscosity in the melted state and understanding temporary or permanent deformations of your composite materials.

Infra-red heating – Radiative properties

Mastering infra-red heating processes for polymers and composites in order to reach target temperatures in tools and parts.

Welded composites assembly

Defining a process window for welding thermoplastic composites

Kinetic models

Identifying parameters for thermo-kinetic models to predict phase changes

Crosslinking a thermosetting resin
Crystallization of a semi-crystalline polymer
Vulcanization of elastomers
Kinetic reactions of glues
Glass transition temperature evolution with the degree of cure (Di Benedetto)

Simulation and thermal modeling

Predicting heat transfers for sizing, understanding, or optimizing polymer and composite forming processes

Metrology solutions

Developing personalized metrology solutions for measuring your composite materials’ thermal behavior and associated processes

Support from research laboratories

Our teams receive support from the laboratories at the University of Nantes and benefit from their technical equipment in order to successfully complete your innovative projects.

Heat transfer of polymers and composites

Vincent SOBOTKA

Professor at the University of Nantes, member of the LTeN team for “Thermal Transfers in Materials and at Interfaces,” Scientific manager at Capacités.

His research activities focus on the thermal science of polymer and composite forming and concern three complementary areas:

Thermal characterization of polymers and composites during the transformation process and developing novel apparatuses.
Modeling coupled transfers in the forming process (thermoplastic injection, RTM, FFF…).
Forming process testing and thermal optimization.

Heat Transfer and Energy Laboratory at Nantes (LTeN)

LTeN is a heat transfer research unit that is recognized nationally and internationally, as well as in the industrial sector. The laboratory has two research areas: transfers in fluids and energy systems and thermal transfers in materials and at interfaces.

The Thermal Transfers in Materials and at Interfaces Team

The main objective of the team’s research is to understand and control heat transfers occurring inside materials and during their development or forming processes.

Scientific publications

M.Peron, R.Cardinaud, N.Lefevre, J.Aubril, V.Sobotka, N.Boyard, S.Le Corre, “PvT-HADDOC: A multi-axial strain analyser and cure monitoring device for thermosetcomposites characterization during manufacturing”, Composites Part A : Applied Science and Manufacturing, Volume 101, 2017, pages 129-142
M. Villiere, S.Guéroult, V. Sobotka, N. Boyard, J. Bréard, D.Delaunay, “Dynamic saturation curve measurement in liquid composite molding by heat transfer analysis,” Compos. Part A-Applied Sci. Manuf., vol. 69, pp. 255–265, Feb. 2015
V. Le Louët, B. Rousseau, S. Le Corre, N. Boyard, X. Tardif, J. Delmas, and D. Delaunay, “International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer Directional spectral reflectivity measurements of a carbon fibre reinforced composite up to 450 ° C,” vol. 112, pp. 882–890, 2017.

Our fleet of testing and measurement machines

More than 220 pieces of industry-specific equipment

Our team has a rich and varied fleet of machines at its disposal. We make sure to utilize the most suitable technical means for each project. To do so, we design specialized test benches that are tailored to polymers, resins or composites representative of each process.

PVT for thermosets or thermoplastics
Thermal resistance of thin film
Flash DSC
IR spectrometers
Infrared diode laser 2 kW 1000 nm

Our projects

Modelling the heat transfer of injection moulding processes

Determining the thermal conductivity of an injected composite during moulding

Contributing to the development of a new aeronautical composite material

A tailor-made strategy and testing resources

Need an innovative and resourceful partner?

Capacités teams inspire, harness and couple numerous cutting-edge skills covering a wide range of applications and expertise to meet all of your innovation needs with passion and commitment!

or send us a message:

Accueil > Industry

Robotic Innovation and Automation

Digital / AI, Industry, Life science, Sea / environment

Our teams create and design innovative, tailor-made robotics solutions for all lines of business.

Using robotics increases autonomy and performance, and it provides sustainable innovation in a wide range of fields: industry, agriculture, construction, civil engineering, etc
We engineer state-of-the-art robotics solutions by combining top robotics research, technological innovation in artificial intelligence and our experience with unique projects.

Our expertise ranges from industrially automating difficult tasks to using innovative technology in autonomous robots, with careful consideration for the human-machine relationship. Rising to new challenges drives us. Our goal is to boost your competitive edge by advancing your R&D.

Summary

Services

Formalising the need

Pre-project studies

Development of a prototype

Industrialisation of the solution

On-site visits

Robotics and Automation Strategies

We are your partner for automating your machines and incorporating robotics into your operations. Our teams brainstorm ideas with you, conduct on-site visits and carry out the pre-project studies needed to secure your investments. For each innovative project, our experts develop a robotic system adapted to your business.

Autonomous Robotics in Uncertain Environments

Our mobile robotics engineers have a broad range of experience with different lines of work and fields of application (service robotics): agricultural robotics, under-sea construction, underground construction, defense, etc. They put their expertise to use to design autonomous and intelligent robots that are adapted to complex environments.

Automating Industrial Processes

Our teams are highly skilled in industrial robotics, process analysis and manual operations. We design specialized solutions for all lines of work by combining innovative robotics technology with standard industrial equipment. We develop and/or optimize manufacturing processes to increase productivity, enhance performance and improve working conditions.

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence for Industry

We work closely with the LS2N laboratory and utilize the latest research in AI-data science for your projects, from implementing one autonomous robot to digitizing and automating your workshops (industry 4.0). By using your data, we can improve your processes, anticipate your maintenance operations or even monitor the state of your machines.

Challenges we’ve met

A robotic anti-personnal landmine detection system

Developing a robotic multi-sensor detection system

Anatis: the autonomous mobile agricultural robot

Need an innovative and resourceful partner?

Capacités teams inspire, harness and couple numerous cutting-edge skills covering a wide range of applications and expertise to meet all of your innovation needs with passion and commitment!

or send us a message:

Accueil > Industry

Industrial valorisation of microalgae

Industry, Life science, Sea / environment

We offer a complete range of services geared towards the industrial use of microalgae, from strain screening to production scale-up.

Our teams are there to guide you when it comes to selecting strains and determining the optimal conditions for microalgal cultivation. We launch a battery of tests on various production systems, be they closed or open, and are able to test or develop different types of custom-made photobioreactors.
We also manage recovery operations up to the extraction-purification of the relevant microalgal compounds: carbohydrates, lipids and proteins.

Our efforts go a long way towards furthering the development of high-potential innovative products such as bioplastics, biofuels, biomaterials, bio-bitumen, spirulina, etc.
By means of R&D services and collaborative research projects, Capacités presents manufacturers and laboratories with their GEPEA Laboratory know-how in the industrial use of microalgae: reusing CO₂, nitrogen and waste heat from industrial activities that cause pollution in order to create valuable resources.

Summary

Services

Strategy and consulting

Diagnostics and screening

Process development

Biorefining

No matter the challenge, our experts deliver practical and innovative solutions

Microalgae, a revolution for

Natural compounds

Microalgae are an innovative source of natural compounds: EPA/DHA, pigments, peptides, proteins, polysaccharides and sterols.

Nutraceutics | Cosmetics

More info

Active molecules

Microalgae are an innovative source of active molecules with unique properties — perfect for enriching your pipeline.

Biotechnologies | Pharmaceuticals

More info

Biomaterials

Microalgae enable the development of innovative materials to replace petroleum-based components.

Chemical industries | Plastics manufacturers

More info

Reducing CO₂ emissions

Microalgae cultivation makes it possible to integrate Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) technologies into plants.

Heavy industries

More info

Screening, selection and optimisation of strains

Our teams have access to the collections of strains from the GEPEA and MMS research laboratories. Where necessary, they can also make use of the RCC and NCC collections, among others. Due to our expertise in strain characterisation, we are able to guide you through the screening, isolation and purification stages.

In a nutshell

STRAIN PORTFOLIO

SCREENING

ISOLATION

CHARACTERISATION

PURIFICATION

TORUS PHOTOBIOREACTORS

Development, testing and automation of cultivation processes

On the strength of our technical resources, we are able to test, measure and monitor all the relevant cultivation parameters for algal biomass production in real time: carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus levels, quantity of light, quantity of water, biological contamination, weather conditions, etc.

We also work on automating cultivation processes by designing monitoring tools capable of automatically adjusting the cultivation parameters in photobioreactors.

In a nutshell

TECHNOLOGY TESTING

CONCENTRATION AND HARVESTING

PROCESS DEVELOPMENT

GROWTH MONITORING

WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Characterising existing technologies
Developing innovative technologies
Optimising solar production
Industrial feasibility study
Environmental impact
Life-cycle assessment
Technology testing

Biomass concentration and harvesting

Process development

Technical and scientific consulting regarding the creation of photobioreactors, as well as harvesting and biorefinery systems
Support for the defining and drafting specifications
Testing of innovative cultivation technologies in a real-world environment with either artificial or natural light (plug & play mode)
Equipment development

Growth monitoring

Treatment and industrial waste recovery

Biorefining, comparative testing and combining unit operations

Our specialists examine the integration of unit operations, either in the research laboratory or on site, with a view to completely recovering the biomass produced. We develop the process up to the extraction-purification of those biomolecules indicated in your specifications. Our research is validated in real-world conditions and on a representative scale.

In a nutshell

HARVESTING

MILLING – ENRICHMENT

EXTRACTION

PURIFICATION

CONDITIONING

Grinding

Concentration and enrichment of target metabolites

Extraction

Adsorption

Membrane filtration
Precipitation
Distillation, rectification
Purification
Centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC, preparative or production)
Crystallisation

Biomass conditioning methods

Mass balance, biomass analysis

Along with the unwavering support of the GEPEA and CEISAM laboratories, we possess the expertise and range of analytical equipment necessary for a precise biochemical characterisation of the organic matter present, the metabolites produced and the biomolecules extracted. We are thus able to carry out our analyses in an entirely autonomous and confidential manner.

In a nutshell

PROTEIN DOSAGE

COMPOUND PROFILING

CLASS PROFILING

FAMILY PROFILING

SPECTRO ANALYSIS

NMR

Profiling

Types of analysis

Scaling up the microalgae cultivation processes

We test and validate the scale-up and industrialisation conditions of the processes. Our wide array of equipment allows us to design pilots and to implement laboratory-scale production, as well as to make and deliver samples destined for trials (consumer, preclinical and clinical).

In a nutshell

IDENTIFYING CONSTRAINTS

PILOT PLANT

INDUSTRIALISATION

CUSTOM MANUFACTURING

Industrialisation of the process

Custom manufacturing

Collaborative research activities and R&D projects

Since we have access to the technical resources and researchers belonging to the GEPEA Laboratory, we are able to develop innovative projects through R&D in the marine bioresources recovery fields, and particularly in microalgae.

In a nutshell

INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY

WASTEWATER TREATMENT

BIOFUELS

BATCH PRODUCTION

INNOVATIVE PROCESSES

EQUIPMENT TESTING

ALGOSOLIS technology and R&D facility

AlgoSolis provides us with the necessary equipment and infrastructure for the controlled, intensive and sustainable use of microalgal resources on a large scale. This platform allows the various stakeholders to develop microalgal cultures in open and closed ponds. The modelling and designing of custom-made photobioreactors is also available. This technology service promotes the development of innovative research projects in the field of blue biotechnology.

In a nutshell

PRE-CULTURE ROOMS

INTENSIFIED PHOTOBIOREACTORS

AIRLIFT PHOTOBIOREACTORS

CLOSED RACEWAYS

OUTDOOR PRODUCTION

GREENHOUSE PRODUCTION

BIOREFINERY HALL

Industrialisation of the process

Custom manufacturing

Training in microalgae cultivation

This professional training course, which is headed up by the research professors of the GEPEA Laboratory and the engineers at Capacités, provides the theoretical and practical elements involved in the entire microalgae production chain, from the preparation of media and inoculums to the ultimate harvesting of the biomass produced in natural light. The course is endorsed by the Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique.

Good cultivation practices [1 day]
Cultivation engineering [2 days]
Harvesting microalgae [1 day]

Engineering at Capacités

Our biodegradability experts carry out their engineering work directly in the research laboratories of Nantes Université, in particular at the GEPEA. On a daily basis, they combine technical means and scientific discoveries to meet your R&D challenges.

Challenges we’ve met

Microalgae to valorise waste heat and industrial CO2

Development of a valorisation process for waste gases via microalgae cultivation

Biorefining microalgae: successfully scaling up

Microalgae: how to recover CO2 from industrial sites into biomaterials and biofuels

Producing high value-added molecules from microalgae

Development and scale-up of the biorefinery process

Producing cholesterol-lowering microalgae at industrial scale

Designing and scaling up microalgal culture processes

Microalgae for wastewater treatment

Coupling water purification with biomass production

Need an innovative and resourceful partner?

Capacités teams inspire, harness and couple numerous cutting-edge skills covering a wide range of applications and expertise to meet all of your innovation needs with passion and commitment!

or send us a message:

Polymers and composites

Advanced characterization of polymers and composites

Thermal analysis of materials and manufacturing processes

Thermal instrumentation and multiphysics modeling of processes

Durability and aging of composite materials

Reusing and recycling polymers and composites

Advanced characterization for additive manufacturing

Need an innovative and resourceful partner?

Mechanical testing on composite materials

Our testing services in Nantes and Saint-Nazaire

Static strength tests

Fatigue tests

Complex tests in an aggressive environment

Custom test benches

Aging tests

Fatigue and additive manufacturing

Composite assembly fatigue

Need an innovative and resourceful partner?

Analysis and characterisation of materials

Our experts offer a complete range of engineering, development and characterisation of materials.

Characterisation of metallic materials

Microscopies

Mechanical properties

Thermal properties

Implementation processes

Expertise – Failure

Assemblies and surface functionalisation

Functional materials and surface treatments

Surface texturing and functionalisation expertise

Process qualification cleaning / degreasing / bonding / painting

Polymer metallisation – substitution of Chromium(VI)

Failure analysis

Characterisation of coated surfaces and assemblies

Study of polymers and composites

Characterisation of ceramic materials

Chemical and microstructural analysis

Physical properties

Expertise – Failure

Concrete formulation and analysis

Characterisation of concrete

Formulation of resistant concretes in the marine environment

Development of low-impact concretes

Durability of concrete structures

Mechanical testing of concrete

Concrete pathology expertise

Engineering at CAPACITÉS

Need an innovative and resourceful partner?

Strength of Materials and Structural Monitoring

Our experts develop strategies for mechanical tests and innovative instrumentation that help you understand, improve and anticipate the mechanical behavior of materials and structures.

Mechanical testing on composite materials

Characterization and testing on concrete and cementitious materials

Characterisation of concrete

Formulation of resistant concretes in the marine environment

Development of low-impact concretes

Durability of concrete structures

Mechanical testing of concrete

Concrete pathology expertise

Soil mechanics – erosion in dikes and embankments

Erosion tests in laboratory

Erosion prevention

Mechanical testing

Physical characterization tests

Structural Health Monitoring

Innovative measures strategies

Strain measurement

On-site instrumentation

Conception of custom sensors

Monitoring by optical fiber sensors

Predicitve maintenance and AI

Monitoring in marine environment

Concrete pathologies on maritime environment

Tests of durability in maritime environment

Monitoring of civil engineering works

Predictive analysis

Marine growth on offshore structures

Engineering at CAPACITÉS

Need an innovative and resourceful partner?

Analytical chemistry : NMR, 2D NMR, IRMS

Our experts in analytical chemistry provide your projects with exceptional technical resources and know-how.

Metabolomic and lipidomic analyses