Today,
on the market of materials it is necessary to :
optimise existing materials (lightening, durability, reliability,
sensory qualities…), joint implementation processes, as well
as their uses (assembling…),
preserve the environment by choosing non-polluting processes
and recycling products as well as considering their biodegradability,
their bioresorbability,
design
new materials for tomorrow's technologies ("smart materials",
materials with specific properties, etc.).
With
about 20% of the national production of polymers and 25% of
the transformation industry (including composites) in the Rhône-Alpes
region,
the la Doua Science Park naturally establishes strong links
with the local industries and is eager to meet their needs.
A
multidisciplinary approach (physics, chemistry, living
sciences, applied mathematics, mechanics and tribology, heat
transfer, acoustics, …), as well as important tools for analysis,
design and characterisation result in a great capacity to get
involved throughout this field of study (materials design,
characterisation, implementation, surface processing, assembling,
behaviours, controls…) which is recognised all over Europe.
La
Doua therefore plays an active role in the achievements and
innovation of both French and international companies in various
sectors of the economy (civil engineering, housing, packaging,
transports, energy production and transformation, information
processing, transmission and storage, space industry, healthcare,
sports…).
Research
on the la Doua Science Park covers the whole field of polymers,
that is chemistry, polymer physico-chemistry and physics where
polymers are regarded as materials, synthesis chemistry, chemical
engineering and polymer chemistry, design characterisation
and both physico-chemical and use properties of polymers.
The materials studied include commodity polymers as well
as technical polymers and biomaterials among which thermoplastics,
elastomers, thermohardener resins, composites, multimaterials,
as well as natural polymer based materials.
International
recognition in catalysis, synthesis, hybrid materials (organic/inorganic),
biomaterials, nanostructured materials, implementation and particularly
reactive implementation (CNRS is currently directing a research
programme on reactive extrusion including nine labs and five
industrial companies), multimaterials and their assembling …
Equipments : on the La Doua Science Park vast resources
to characterise and analyse (NMR, electron microscopes …), as
well as two halls for polymer design are available… A technical
centre for biomaterials is currently under discussion.
The
Lyon federation of polymer specialists is recognised by
CNRS. This research federation gathers labs from Claude Bernard
Lyon1 University, INSA-Lyon, ESCPE-Lyon located on the Science
Park as well as a lab from the Savoie University and one from
Saint Etienne University. The federation allows to further develop
collaborations and joint initiatives on polymer polymerisation,
as well as optimise the purchase and use of heavy technical
equipment.
Structure
materials :
Researchers
on the La Doua Science Park are heavily involved in the study
of ceramics, glasses, gels, metals and alloys, and high-performance
composites. They concentrate on their microstructural analysis
and their mechanical properties.
Life expectancy : The purpose of these studies is to take
into account the potential life expectancy of a material to
increase the safety and reliability of the products manufactured.
These studies combine different methodologies (sensors, non
destructive control …) and attempts to model behaviours.
Materials
/mechanics : SNECMA selected La Doua labs to research "roller
bearing calculation" for materials/mechanics coupling. Several
test and characterisation benches use state-of-the-art techniques
such as the MINIBAT test bench for heat transfer in building,
the only one in the world to be able to measure temperature
diffusivity in materials up to 3,000°C.
Foams : In-depth research is conducted in this field of
study. Both metallic foams and ceramic foams lighten structures
and offer interesting energy dissipation capabilities.
Shape
memory materials : Smart materials can adapt their behaviours
and performances to different environments. Research teams on
the la Doua Sciences Park have created materials that can be
"trained". They can recover their initial shape for
example under temperature changes. This has many applications
in healthcare and the biomedical field, in optics…
The
federation of structure materials and use properties was
created in January 2000 by the CNRS' SPI department. It (FR
2145) gathers six labs from the Rhône-Alpes region (GEMPPM from
INSA-Lyon, LTDS from Ecole Centrale in Lyon, PECM and SPIN from
Ecole des Mines in Saint Etienne, LTPCM and GPM2 from INPG).
The purpose of this federation is to carry out initial research
on scientific deadlocks in materials engineering but also to
coordinate the setting up of heavy equipment, to design research
projects together with industrial companies for the approval
of national or European authorities, to organise scientific
research on materials both on a national and international scale.
CLYME
( Lyon Electron Microscopy Consortium) : this pool of different
labs located on the la Doua Science Park makes it possible to
purchase heavy equipment for state-of-the-art research.
Materials
for electronics :
Materials
for optics and lasers :
Research
on the la Doua Science Park is heavily involved in non-linear
optics (frequency doubling…), optoelectronics (for very high
bit rate telecommunications), lasers and microlasers, optical
memories (large data storage capabilities for computer systems)…
Tomorrow's lasers : Several labs are working on tomorrow's
lasers. Numerous industrial applications are at stake. They
include blue lasers for improved data storage (with a great
potential in telecommunications), more efficient medical lasers,
… and even lasers detecting air pollution. The latter is at
the centre of a French and German research project called "
Teramobil ", the purpose of which is to develop a very powerful
and mobile femtosecond laser to analyse air pollution.
Mirrors
of the French-Italian VIRGO programme : The construction
of these mirrors, which involves state-of-the-art technology
(clean room…), intends to confirm the existence of gravitaional
waves first predicted by Einstein's theory of relativity.
CRYSTAL - CLEAR project : design of new scintillating materials
to develop detectors for physics and healthcare (collaboration
between la Doua and CERN).
Lyon
nano-opto-technology pole : This pole was created within
the framework of a state/region objective contract. Its purpose
is to strengthen and stimulate fundamental and applied research
conducted in Lyon in these fields of study and to transfer their
results to both the industrial world and the world of specialised
education.
Construction
materials :
In
this field of study, the purpose is to optimise existing materials
such as concretes and asphalts but also to design new materials
to meet the needs of the market in terms of ease of use, mechanical
resistance, and durability.
Self-leveling concretes : La Doua researchers are internationally
recognised for their work on self-leveling concretes. These
concretes are extremely fluid and will self-level under the
sole effect of gravity. As opposed to traditional concretes,
they therefore eliminate noise nuisance when cast but are also
much faster and easier to use… Furthermore, thanks to their
near-perfect flatness, self-leveling concretes are considered
to be of a better quality.
Mixed
structures : the underlying principle of mixed structures
is to associate materials with complementary performances. A
"woods" (mixed wood/concrete structures) pole of study
is currently being developed as part of a national project.
New smart materials : The la Doua Science Park is the European
leader for the design of smart materials. Smart materials are
extremely sophisticated. They are active matrix polymers using
textile reinforcements to repair and maintain concrete works,
reinforced concrete, and prestressed concrete. These materials
are used for their high performances. The sensors they integrate
enable a better follow-up of the works they are used on.
Mix
of waste in construction materials : The mixing of industrial
waste in construction materials is a solution to recycle some
by-products. Several applications have already been found (use
of bauxite, non combustible waste from car crushing, use of
polymer waste for ballast and embakements…).
Nanotechnologies
:
After
the microtechnology revolution, a nanotechnology revolution
is in the making. Nanotechnologies will make it possible to
design new materials by piecing up aggregates with rare properties.
In this field of study, la Doua researchers have gained European
recognition.
Small aggregates : Dividing matter and rearranging it, observing
its new properties, these are the goals of the Lyon interlab
research centre on aggregates. This unique centre in Europe
relies on a multidisciplinary approach and specialists in the
gaseous phase, physicists, and chemists study the new aggregates
(i.e. atom aggregates with new geometries).
Nanotechnologies
: New technologies have been designed specifically for this
type of research, for example, field emission tips ending in
a single atom (with which nano-structures the scale of the angström
could be built), new microscopes adapted to the study of fragile
materials such as polymers and biological structures, and new
equipment to further investigate surfaces and interfaces (surface
and interfacial force measurements).
Training
:
Initial
training :
INSA-Lyon, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University
Continuing training : CAST, CPE FCR, Claude Bernard Lyon1 University's service for continuing
training.
Focus
on :
Maîtrise de Sciences des Matériaux (UCBL) (4-year degree
in materials science)
Materials engineering course (ISTIL/UCBL) : 20 engineers
trained every year
Materials engineering department of INSA-Lyon : 73 engineers
trained every year
Mechanical engineering/Design department of INSA-Lyon
DESS de nanotechnologie (UCBL) (vocational post-graduate
degree in nanotechnology)
DESS de chimie et génie de formulation (UCBL)
(vocational post-graduate degree in chemistry and formulation
engineering)
Lyon materials post-graduate school : DEA matière condensée, surfaces et interfaces (post-graduate
research certificate in condensed matter, surfaces and
interfaces)
DEA matériaux polymères et composites (post-graduate research
certificate in polymers and composites)
DEA génie des matériaux : microstructure, comportement
mécanique, durabilité (post-graduate research certificate
in materials engineering : microstructure, mechanical
behaviour, durability).
Business
:
Several high-tech
materials companies have established themselves on the la Doua Science
Park : CERAP SA (plastics), COMPOSITE CONCEPT (composites), TRIOPTICS
France (instruments for optical component characterisation and nanopositioning)…
An
overview of innovations and achievements at la Doua
Nuclear
tanks under close surveillance !
GEMPPM
GEMPPM
has been commissioned by EDF to conduct research on thermoelectric
power. The research resulted in a prototype used for the follow-
up of nuclear tanks (microstructure changes…).
A
new roof for Lyon Gerland Stadium
L2M
To
cover the Gerland stadium, high-performance composites and technical
textiles have been used. They guarantee enormous resistance
to the physical forces in the structure… This technology was
developed by the UCBL materials mechanics lab.
Renault
VI et GEC Alsthom : state-of-the-art materials
UCBL
- INSA-Lyon
For
four years, UCBL, INSA-Lyon, ECL, INRETS and Renault VI have
participated in the "Security - Transports" programme sponsored
by the Rhône-Alpes region. The same teams are also heavily involved
in research projects supported by GEC Alsthom on the design
of new generation TGV's (high speed trains) (lighter structures
using composites).
Controled
polymer implementation
IMP
IMP
has designed and developed a UV-Fluorescence-based prototype
to determine exposure time in an extruder. This prototype is
currently being validated by ELF.
Bioactive
natural polymers
IMP
Chitosan-based
materials are designed for cellular reconstruction (skin healing,
bone or parietal implants, tissue engineering). Application
are currently under investigation by two SME's.
Glass
to store waste!
LPCML
- IPNL
LPCML
and IPNL are both taking part in the NOMAD research team on
nuclear waste storage. The purpose of their research is to understand
the reactions of glass to environmental aggressions in the more
general frame of waste vitrification.
Recyle
it !
URGC
URGC
recycles bauxite waste. The aim is to develop high-performance
concretes including 7 to 15% of dehydrated red mud. These materials
could be used for works of arts having to withstand difficult
conditions.
Cook
on a concrete hotplate !
GEMPPM
A
new generation of hotplates, cheaper than vitroceramics with
similar performances may soon appear on the market. Tests are
currently being performed for EDF.
Predict
the future !
GEMPPM
Nowadays,
most underground pipes are made of plastic and burried for approximately
50 years. GEMPPM is developing systems to predict their life
expectancy with regards to their chemical structures and their
microstructures.
New
packaging solutions
IMP
Most
packagings are multilayer structures including different polymers.
They are therefore difficult to recycle. Nanocharge dispersion
such as clays, which bring excellent mechanical properties and
boundaries to the films being implemented, reduce the number
of components in multilayers.
Strings
for tennis champions
IMP
A
new string for tennis rackets has been developed in collaboration
with Babolat using reactive extrusion modified thermoplastic
polyurethane.
VIRGO
mirrors : high-precision optics
IPNL
IPNL
has been commissioned to design the large mirrors of the French-Italian
VIRGO programme. The mirrors for VIRGO are the best optics ever
built. They should make it possible to detect gravitational
waves predicted in Einstein's theory of general relativity.
Silicon
clathrates :
new materials in sight!
DPM
Silicon
clathrates are almost as hard as diamond. They have promising,
optoelectronic properties and have proven efficient for high-temperature
supraconductivity. They could well be tomorrow's materials with
applications in microelectronics. Carbon clathrates are as promising
and even cheaper.
Nanotechnology
Prize
DPM
Professor
VU THIEN from the UCBL Materials Physics Department was awarded
the Nanotechnology Prize by the French Research Ministry. This
Prize rewarded his research on the study and development of
nanosources for specific and industrial applications, the study
and characterisation of nanoobjects, and low-voltage electron
microscopy.
2000 Paul LANGEVIN Prize
DPM
Professor
Jean-Louis BARRAT, as head of the DPM "theory and modelisation"
team, was awarded the Paul LANGEVIN Prize by the Société Française
de Physique. This prize rewards his work which concentrates
mainly on granular materials, polymers and polyelectrolytes,
amorphous solids, confined glass and liquids.
Albert PORTEVIN Medal
GEMPPM
Professor
Roger FOUGERES, former director of the GEMPPM research lab was
awarded the Albert PORTEVIN Medal by the Société Française de
Métallurgie et des Matériaux. This medal is awarded every three
years to a French or foreign researcher and rewards his/her
works in the relations between microstructure and properties
of metals and alloys.
Major
projects :
Equipment
Purchase of an environmental scanning electron microscope
The
CLYME (Lyon Consortium of Electron Microscopy), which gathers
several la Doua labs should purchase such a microscope enabling
work in different atmospheres (water, gas, low or high temperature).
Such microscopes can be used in many areas of research (examples
for materials : plaster hardening, metal corrosion; examples
for biology : cell studies…).
Research
National consortium on structure lightening
"Structure
lightening for materials used in aeronautics" is one of the
research subjects that was selected as part of the materials
and process research and technological innovation network (R2IT)
gathering many university partners from both within and without
the Rhône-Alpes region and Aérospatial, Péchiney, etc.
Technological centre
Creation of a technological centre for biomaterials
This
technological centre is intended as a technological and scientific
interface between industries, clinicians, and public research
labs. The areas of research are related to biomaterials/biological
systems surface and interface (theoretical and experimental)
characterisation. Several la Doua labs are active partners in
the project.
Research
Lyon nano-opto-technology pole
This
pole of research draws on local skills in terms of nanostructure
design, ultimate characterisation and high-technology. It relies
on a nano-optic centre, an electro-optic characterisation centre
and a common technological centre for ECL, INSA and UCBL as
well as a strong partnership with local public and industrial
labs ranging from CEA-LETI Grenoble to pôle Optique et Vision
(St-Etienne). The resulting research projects, from original
fundamental developments to industrial transfers, are recognised
internationally but are also on national and regional priority
lists.
Research
Creation of a national network originating from two la Doua
research labs
This
network will focus on the following research fields : active
recognition and programmed lifespan polymers.
Click here to locate the research labs and the businesses in this
field of study >>
103 researchers and 105 PhD students work in materials
and their applications.
Research
- Training - Business
- La Doua : innovations and achievements
- Major projects 
