General presentation
The PCH laboratory’s overarching objective is to develop multifunctional polymer, composite and hybrid materials with a low environmental impact.
The PCH unit is developing expertise covering the entire value chain for polymer and composite materials, from the selection of raw materials through to the end of the material’s life. This integrated approach, which links the various stages of the life cycle, enables the unit to support its academic and industrial partners at every stage of an eco-material’s development. Research activities are organised around four major, complementary areas:
Formulating eco-materials from resources with a low environmental impact: recycled or bio-based polymers, additives and reagents derived from biomass, and natural fibres of lignocellulosic origin, whether plant-based or marine (algae). T This upstream stage aims to replace fossil resources with renewable alternatives or those derived from the circular economy right from the design stage.
Develop and process these environmentally responsible materials using clean and innovative processes, whilst ensuring that the environmental impact of the processing methods themselves is minimised (energy consumption, use of solvents, generation of process waste).
Staff
BENEZET Jean-Charles, Lecturer-researcher, HDR
BERGERET Anne, Lecturer-researcher, HDR
BUONOMO Sylvain, Research engineer,
DUMAZERT Loïc, Research engineer,
EVSTRATOV Alexeï, Lecturer-researcher, HDR
FERRY Laurent, Lecturer-researcher, HDR, see the CV
GALLARD Benjamin, Research engineer,
GUIBAL Eric, Lecturer-researcher,
LACOSTE Clement, Lecturer-researcher, see the CV
LE MOIGNE Nicolas, Lecturer-researcher, voir le CV
LIOTIER Pierre-Jacques, Lecturer-researcher,
LONGUET Claire, Lecturer-researcher, HDR
LOPEZ-CUESTA José-Marie, Lecturer-researcher, HDR
OTAZAGHINE Belkacem, Lecturer-researcher, HDR, see the CV
OUBAHMANE-SERAINE Caroline, Research technician,
PERRIN Didier, Lecturer-researcher, HDR
RAVEL Romain, Research technician, see the CV
SABOURIN Lionel, Research technician,
SONNIER Rodolphe, Lecturer-researcher, HDR
TAGUET Aurélie, Lecturer-researcher, HDR
VINCENT Thierry, Research and development engineer,
Research Topics
Purpose : To characterise and select biomass in all its diversity to design optimised bio-based composite materials
Scientific bottlenecks :
- Processes, biomass and composites
- Development and characterisation of microstructures
- Mechanical behaviour of bio-based materials
Scientific leader : Nicolas Le Moigne, Clément Lacoste.
Purpose : To gain a thorough understanding of the properties of multi-phase materials (polymer blends, particulate composites, fibre-reinforced composites) by gaining a detailed understanding of the relationship between the surfaces of the phases, their fabrication and the resulting interfaces, whilst improving the circularity of these materials.
- Surface functionalisation and characterisation
- Reliable control and reproducibility of treatments, and characterisation of the surfaces of multifunctional materials (e.g. hydrophobic, fire-retardant, etc.)
- Understanding of the coupled phenomena between processing (wetting, impregnation) and microstructures
- Adaptation to new systems (new materials, new processing methods)Rôle des interfaces dans les matériaux hétérophasés / dvpt outils de caractérisation/modélisation*
- Detailed characterisation of interfaces and the relationship between interfacial and macroscopic properties (multiscale aspect); Predictive models (interfacial tension, rheological and mechanical models)
Scientific leaders : Aurélie Taguet
Purpose : To develop polymers and structural materials as part of an eco-design approach guided BY and BASED ON (bold) end-of-life considerations, in order to ensure isofunctional properties
Scientific bottlenecks :
- Replacement with more sustainable, eco-friendly materials that facilitate end-of-life management
- Incorporation of recycled materials into new products placed on the market (redesign)
Scientific leader : Marcos Batistella, Didier Perrin
Purpose : To reduce fire risks by developing safer materials
- Identification of mechanisms of action
- Development of phenomenological models (in response to a range of industrial needs)
Scientific leader : Rodolphe Sonnier
Purpose : To establish an interdisciplinary link between ‘materials science and engineering’ and ‘microbiology and microbial ecology’, i.e. between two laboratories at IMT Mines Alès: PCH and GARANCe
Scientific bottlenecks :
- The effect of microbial communities on biomass for the eco-design of materials
- The effect of microbial communities on polymers for end-of-life management
Collaborations
At the European level, PCH is deeply involved in two networks: ENMAT (European Network on MATerials), a general network on materials, and EPNOE (European Polysaccharides Network of Excellence), a network focused on agroresources and biopolymers that brings together 40 major European universities and for which IMT mines Alès is the headquarters. The team also has direct collaborations with a number of European institutions such as the University of Bolton (Great Britain), the University of Trento (Italy), MateriaNova (Belgium), the LIST (Luxembourg), and the EMPA (Switzerland).
Internationally, PCH has developed a network of academic partnerships with emerging countries, notably through bilateral programs (PHC and CAPES-COFECUB). In this context, the main partners are the University of Bejaia (Algeria), the University of Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre (Brazil), the University of Monastir (Tunisia), and the Nuclear Materials Authority in Cairo (Egypt).
PCH has many partnerships with industrial companies, e.g. Acome, Armor, Cellmark, Corning, Eranova, FRD, Gerflor, IXBlue, Lafarge Holcim, Naval group, Pellenc, Saint-Gobain, Silvadec, Segula Technologies
