Accueil > Expertises > Materials > Polymers and Composites

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!

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