+ IMP – Polymer Materials Engineering

ADAPTED KNOWHOW
                      ... from chemistry to the object

IMP develops multidisciplinary projects whose scientific originality and pertinence stem from pooling the competences within the laboratory (chemistry, rheology, plasturgy, biomaterials, etc.) and collaborations with other specialized communities (organic chemistry and catalysis, biology, physics, process engineering).

- Interfaces and nanostructures (transport, energy storage)
- Reactive extrusion and polymer formulation (automobiles, energy storage, recycling)
- Polymer synthesis, chemical modification and formulation (transport, health, the environment)
- Polymer materials for the life sciences (biomedical).

TECHNICAL RESOURCES

Leading edge facilities

Twin screw extruder, mixers, co-extrusion, polymerization reactors (PA and polyesters), Rheometers, DSC, DMA, Chromatography (liquid, gas), etc.

Platforms 

• Polymer analysis by NMR (platform of the Lyon Institute of Chemistry)
• Characterisation of polymers by liquid chromatography (platform of the Lyon Institute of Chemistry)
• Studies of specific properties of polymers (dielectric, sorption/permeation)
• Application and forming processes
• Linings and coatings
• Polymer synthesis and chemical modification processes
• Thermal analyses
• Rheology and viscoelasticity

REPUTATION & DISTINCTIONS

The teacher-researchers participate in a large number of national and international networks and projects:

• Institut Carnot: Ingénierie@Lyon
• Labex: IMUST- multiscale sciences and technologies
• FUI Projects: 
  ECOSILAC / developing coatings, innovative eco-designed and environmentally friendly processes for the health, packaging, clothing and furnishing industries;
  AGROBOOST / developing materials for new generation biodegradable and compostable agrotextiles and geotextiles;            
  POLYWOOD / producing polyamides from wood; 
  COMPACRYL / demonstrating the pertinence of composites for skis and public equipment to improve properties and make advances in the environment and health-safety;
  SMOUSSIF / formulating new silicon foams for the aeronautical industry.

• European Projects:  
  ECNP Growth: IMP acts as the vice-President of the ECNP and manages its research division. The European Commission chose the ECNP 2010 to 2014 through the ECNP-GROWTH programme to reinforce its relations with European industrial groups involved in the sector of polymer nanomaterials and nanocomposites.
  MAT4BAT / the formulation of new polymer separation membranes for battery applications. The membranes are made conductive by the introduction of ionic liquids.
  TEX-SHIELD /the development of ultra-hydrophobic textiles, without using perfluorinated polymers. Silicon technologies and “lotus effect” approaches are placed to the fore in this project.   
  IMS&CPS / using polyether sulfonated thermostable thermoplastic fibres to introduce and control the localisation and orientation of carbon nanotubes in structural composites.

In 2014, the Innovation Prize of the 8^th ANR Ecotechnology Day was awarded for the TRICOTOX project (IMP, Plastic Omnium, Arts&Métiers), aimed at developing a green recycling process for plastic polymers. It is now used industrially (PSA automobile parts).

IMP’s researchers published in the most prestigious scientific reviews and jointly organised reputed conferences: Groupe Français de Rhéologie (GFR), Groupe Français des Polymères (GFP), Eurofillers&Polymer Blends, International Conference on Biobased Materials and Composites conferences, European Silicon Days, etc.