UNIVERSITE DE REIMS
CHAMPAGNE ARDENNE
Université de Reims Champagne Ardenne
Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de Reims Unité mixte de recherche CNRS 6229 Call for PhD student (3 year-studentship) «Optimization of carbon- fibers for high performance composites cured by radiation-initiated free radical polymerisation»
Project The objective of the proposed study is to improve the mechanical properties – especially the shear strength in the transverse direction as well as the damage tolerance – of radiation-cured carbon- fiberreinforced composite materials. This goal will be reached through the development - from basic laboratory experiments to pre-industrial scale - of carbon fibre sizings adapted to the specificities of the radiation-induced free-radical polymerisation process. The fibre / matrix interphase shall be optimised by using tailored reactive sizings and by defining processing conditions compatible with the organic matrices recently developed for obtaining high toughness materials. Particularly, the influence of the carbon fibre surface on the polymerization reaction shall be studied for proposing original surface treatments favourable to the formation of an optimal fibre – matrix interphase. The efficiency of the proposed solutions will be assessed at the laboratory level by studying model compounds (ie models for the carbon fibre surface, for the reactive sizing and for the matrix resin). The most promising solutions will be selected on the basis of their efficiency for mechanical improvement, storage stability, greenness of the chemistry, as well as on their industrial applicability and robustness. The 3-year research program will include: physico-chemical studies of model systems, study of their reactivity under radiation, design, formulation and application of original sizings, composite fabrication and advanced mechanical characterization. Partnership International context and programme involving Airbus (Spain), Astrium-ST and URCA (France), and Hexcel (UK). References : Method for enhancing adherence of carbon fibres with repect to an organic matrix, B. Defoort, P. Ponsaud, X. Coqueret, WO2007031576 Recent advances in electron-beam curing of carbon fiber-reinforced composites, X. Coqueret, M. Krzeminski, P. Ponsaud and B. Defoort, Radiation Physics and Chemistry (78) 2009, 557-561. Profile: The Ph.D. candidate is a polymer chemist (MSc degree) with strong experimental skills and solid experience at least in one of the following domains: chemical analytics, surface chemistry, polymer chemistry or mechanical characterization of polymer materials. Language requirements: fluent English written and spoken, minimal knowledge and practice of French, or fluent French and very good level in English. Contacts : Xavier Coqueret Professeur ICMR UMR CNRS 6229 BP 1039 51687 Reims Cedex 2 Tél.-Fax : +33 3 26 91 33 38 xavier.coqueret@univ-reims.fr www.univ-reims.fr/ICMR Brigitte Defoort Expert Matériaux et Procédés Astrium Space Transportation Avenue du Général Niox BP20011 33160 Saint Médard en Jalles Tel : 05 56 57 23 65 brigitte.defoort@astrium.eads.net
Send : Curriculum vitae + application letter + two academic references before October 10, 2009