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
Contributing to the development of a new aeronautical composite material
Composites testing for the aerospace industry
Concrete on Cruise Ships
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:
