PLASTICS

Expertises
Testing and Trials
Laboratories and Instruments
Projects
  • Development of new formulations for thermoplastic polymers
  • Process optimization for the transformation of plastic materials
  • Eco-friendly resin development from bio-sourced biodegradable polymers
  • Use of eco-friendly processes (reactive extrusion)
  • Valorization of recycled plastics
  • Development of functional polymer material
  • Preparation of innovative fillers for functionalization or strengthening of thermoplastic resins
  • Development of polymer material for additive manufacturing (composite and nanocomposite thermoplastics, photosensitive resins, polymer binders, etc.)

Technical Support Services

  • Additive manufacturing
  • Failure analysis
  • Reverse engineering
  • Qualification analysis
  • Valorization of plastics and circular economy
  • Numerical simulation (FEM/FEA)
  • Process validation

Materials

  • Polymer formulation
  • Laboratory tests and trials
  • Physicochemical characterization of polymers

Product Design

  • Material selection
  • Failure analysis
  • Design (CAD)
  • Quality assurance (QA)

Mechanical and Thermomechanical Characterization

  • Tensile strength, bending and compression Mechanical analysis
  • Impact (Izod, Charpy, Gardner, etc.)
  • Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)
  • Thermomechanical analysis (TMA)
  • Stress crack resistance (ESCR, NCLS)
  • Tear resistance
  • Thermal expansion coefficient (TMA)

Implementation and Manufacturing Processes

  • Optimization of processes and resolving industrial issues
  • Industrial Scale-Up
  • Transformation, assembly and finishing

Physical Characterization

  • Density/specific gravity
  • Hardness (Rockwell, Shore, Barcol)
  • Friction coefficient
  • Water absorption
  • Permeability (O2 and water vapour)
  • Colour, brilliance, transparency
  • Abrasion and scratches

Transformation Processes

  • Twin screw extrusion
  • Injection moulding
  • Thermoforming
  • Extrusion blow moulding
  • Extrusion – calendering
  • Extrusion – coating
  • Filament extrusion
  • Compression moulding
  • Additive manufacturing processes (FDM, SLS, SLA, CLIP)

Thermal Characterization

  • Differential Calorimetry Analysis (DSC)
  • Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)
  • Heat distortion temperature (HDT)
  • Vicat softening point (VST)
  • Flammability measurement
  • Thermal conductivity

Rheological Characterization

  • Melt flow index (MFI)
  • Viscosity (Brookfield, inherent, complex)
  • Rheometry

Aging and Degradation

  • Accelerated aging (UVA, UVB, Xenon)
  • Climate conditioning (environmental chamber, salt spray)
  • Chemical resistance

Chemical Analysis

  • Chemical composition analysis (XRF)
  • Ignition loss, ash content and ash analysis
  • Chemical resistance

Spectroscopic and Microscopic Analysis

  • UV-visible microscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier Transform InfraRed spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman
  • Optical microscopy (polarized light [POM], phase contrast, according to temperature)
  • Optical microscopy combined with Raman spectroscopy
  • Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) combined with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDX)

Plastics Characterization

Formulation

Plastics Processing

Additive Manufacturing

  • Advanced additive manufacturing for future vertical take-off devices.
  • Creation of concept demonstration strategies and hybrid manufacturing for tools – Polymer thermoplastics axis.
  • Processing of recycled nylon powder for additive.
  • Development of filaments made from high-performance thermoplastics and reinforced with fibres for 3D printing of parts used for the transport industry and in high temperature composite tools.

 

Biodegradable and Bio-sourced Polymers and Bio-composites

  • Development of bio-renewable polymers for the plastics and composite industry.
  • Production of a new agricultural mulch: Phase 2 – optimization, performance validation and industrial transfer.
  • Development of a bio-sourced formula for cardboard paper coating.
  • Development of environmentally friendly thermoplastic composites for the automotive industry from cellulose fibres.
  • Development of a marine cellulose-biopolymer material using surface treatment techniques for cellulosic products.

 

Formulation

  • Using innovative technical specifications for polymers.
  • Study of durability and mechanical performances of HDPE-based hybrid materials: application to the valorization of recycled polymers used in water pipes.

Recycling

  • Recycling of tubing and accessories used in the production of maple products.