Research

• Scientific clusters
  • MIcrostructure, Mécanique, EXpérimentation
    • MIMEX staff
    • Ongoing projects
    • Expertises and equipments
  • SImulation des Matériaux et des Structures
    • SIMS staff
    • Ongoing projects
    • Expertises and equipments
  • Surfaces, Interfaces, Procédés
    • SIP staff
    • Ongoing projects
    • Expertises and equipments
  • Transverse axis : FAMHES
    • FAMHES staff
    • Ongoing projects
    • Expertises and equipments
• Technical Divisions
  • µMAX
  • AT-JPE
  • STAR
• Partnership
• Publications
• Technology transfer
  • ZÉBULON code
• Thesis in progress
• Thesis defended

Surfaces, Interfaces, Procédés

SCIENTIFIC CONTEXT OF RESEARCH

The "Surfaces, Interfaces, Procédés" group seeks to develop new functional materials by establishing the relationships between the process parameters, the structures at different scales (from nano to macro) and the physical properties of the shaped materials, including their mechanical properties. This approach, which is largely supported by the extensive means of characterizing the microstructures available at the center, combines the skills and know-how of experimenters and modellers, and allows industrial processes to be revisited by bringing new lighting and a more in-depth understanding of the phenomena at play, as well as designing completely new processes, materials and even parts using our multi-material and / or multi-scale vision. The activities are therefore primarily focused on industrial partnerships, until the transfer of technology.

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• SIP staff
• Ongoing projects
• Expertises and equipments
• The SIP symposium of December 15, 2017
• The presentation brochure of the SIP group (pdf)

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Research themes

• "Traditional" processes (powder metallurgy)
• Out of equilibrium processes
• Assembly processes
• Wet processes

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"TRADITIONAL" PROCESSES (powder metallurgy)

Person in charge : Yves BIENVENU

 
"Traditional" production processes use either the liquid phase (molding ...) of ready-to-use materials after surface finishing operations or thermomechanical treatments, or solid phase diffusion. Related processes can be grouped under the term Powder Metallurgy, which also includes ceramic materials. The reasoning in the solidification studies is based on thermodynamics, and can be guided by simple equilibrium calculations (Calphad, Thermocalc) and by the results of chemical and thermal analyzes, taking into account interfacial phenomena and the kinetics (flows and diffusion accompanying the change of liquid-solid state).

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OUT OF EQUILIBRIUM PROCESSES

People in charge : Francesco DELLORO, Michel JEANDIN

 
These processes encompass in the pole the plasma projection and the cold spray projection. The supply of energy (thermal or kinetic) in a very short time leads to non-equilibrium interfaces or structures. Very different (and even not very compatible) materials can combine to form many substrate-coating couples, including metallization or ceramization of polymers or fabrics, increasing the possibilities of new functional materials. The understanding and improvement of these processes are based on specific characterizations (LASAT : laser shock for adhesion testing) and modeling, for example by finite elements for the particle-substrate collision in cold-spray.

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ASSEMBLY METHODS

People in charge : Sébastien JOANNÈS, Jacques RENARD

This research area covers multi-material mechanical assemblies such as riveting, gluing or welding composite structures with polymeric or metallic sub-assemblies. The notion of assembly extends to multi-functional assemblies by responding to changing markets. Indeed, to meet the economic challenges, composite materials are increasingly brought to integrate functionalities that go beyond mechanical properties : the composites of tomorrow will be "intelligent and hybrid" multiplying interfaces and assemblies. The desired functionalities are multiple : it can for example be to capture information (detection of defects) or react to a specific environment. Composite materials must for that purpose integrate sensitive elements (electronic elements in particular) and this hybridization / functionalization must take place on the scale of the constituents themselves. Functions can now be provided on the fibers themselves by incorporating fillers and additives before extrusion and spinning. It is important to understand the complexity of new interfaces created so as not to deteriorate the primary functionalities such as mechanical strength and especially durability.

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WET PROCESSES

People in charge : Anthony CHESNAUD, Jean-François HOCHEPIED, Alain THOREL

These methods make reference both to particle synthesis by precipitation  and to powder shaping for the production of ceramics, for example tape  casting for fuel cells. The controlled precipitation in aqueous solutions in suitable reactors, mainly applied to metal oxides, makes it possible to obtain a good compromise between control of the physico-chemical characteristics of the particles (purity, size, shape, etc.) and an industrially acceptable process, which distinguishes our work from soft chemistry academic approaches allowing often better particle control but appearing unrealistic on an industrial scale (especially in terms of cost), and pure process engineering approaches that only take into account rough characterization and control of particle size or morphology.

The tape casting, screen printing or film coating, developed in the laboratory, are "wet processes" involving a cold forming with a slurry followed by frying and sintering. The most delicate point is the stabilization of the slurry (against flocculation and sedimentation), asking to readjust their formulation according to the characteristics of the powders (grain size, surface charge, morphology and crystallochemical nature). Dominating the formulation of the slurries makes it possible, for example, to control and therefore optimize the porous microstructures of fuel cells, combining different materials.

Additional downloads :

• Précipitation d'hydroxydes et d'oxydes métalliques en solution aqueuse ― Contrôle de la taille et de la forme des particules (pdf)
• (Co)precipitation of (hyd)roxides nanoparticles and nanostructured particles in aqueous solutions (pdf)

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Latest publications