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Presentation

CIRIMAT, the Interuniversity Center of Materials Research and Engineering, was created in 1999 by the merger of 3 laboratories and is structured into 6 research teams since january 2021. It brings together the Toulouse competences in the field of science and materials engineering, spread over 4 geographical sites: 3 on the Toulouse-Rangueil university campus (UT3-Chemistry, UT3-Physics, UT3-Pharmacy) and one on the INP-ENSIACET campus.

The CIRIMAT is a Mixed Research Unit (UMR CNRS INPT UT3 5085) with about 220 people, including just over 100 faculty and staff, 75 doctoral students and 35 post-docs, ATER and engineers.

Regarding CNRS, the UMR reports to the Institute of Chemistry (INC). The researchers in the unit are in section 15 (most of them), 14, 13 and 9. Teacher-researchers mainly report to section 33 of the CNU, but also to sections 28, 30, 32 and 85.

CIRIMAT scientists are strongly involved in training at all levels at UT3 and INPT-ENSIACET. .

SCIENTIFIC STRATEGY

The scientific strategy is based on the continuum and balance between an academic research of the best international level and a strong partnership research oriented towards innovation. For this, CIRIMAT develops 4 perennial Scientific Axes:

In addition, Transverse Axes intended to promote synergies are put forward periodically. The three Transverse Axes 2021-2025 are: Biopolymers, Thermoelectric Materials, Hydrogen.

CIRIMAT conducts multidisciplinary research on all families of materials (metals, alloys, ceramics, polymers, composites, multimaterials) in the form of powders, thin films, coatings, massive pieces, from their conception to their behavior in service.
This research, both fundamental and applied, deals with current scientific questions in fields with strong industrial and societal impact: Aeronautics (aircraft and engines), Space, Energy (production and storage), Electronics, Health, Environment, Building.

Each year, more than 100 new contracts are launched within the framework of publicly and/or privately funded programs: Universities, ANR, FUI, PSPC, DGA, DGE, ADEME, ONERA, CNES, Europe (Flagship, FP7, H2020, Marie Curie …), industrial contracts (through joint laboratories, CIFRE or other agreements), …
In addition to publishing about 140 articles per year in peer-reviewed journals, CIRIMAT’s scientists are involved in operations aimed at filling the gap between lab discoveries on new materials and real-life technological applications. The previous five-year contract thus saw 60 patents and 5 concessions of operating licenses.

CIRIMAT has thus established strong and lasting links with industrial partners (major groups, subcontractors, SMEs, start-ups), in France and abroad, which have earned it the label Institut Carnot as of the first cal for tenders in 2006. This label was renewed in 2011. In 2016, CIRIMAT and partners in Montpellier joined forces and were once again awarded the label, as Institut Carnot Chimie Balard CIRIMAT . This label was renewed in 2019.

Involved in Quality Management, CIRIMAT has been ISO 9001 certified since 2012.

EQUIPMENT

CIRIMAT has numerous equipments for synthesis, preparation and shaping (powders, layers and coatings, massifs) on a laboratory scale as well as facilities adapted to the production of prototypes or to the development on a pilot scale, thus promoting the transfer of technology to the industrial environment.

Powders: soft chemistry, hydrothermal synthesis, ceramic route, atomization, supercritical CO2, freeze-drying, …

Thin films and coatings: CVD, PVD, wet processes: electroplating, electrochemical anodization, chemical conversion, sol-gel, impregnation, tape-casting, dip-coating, spin coating, …

Dense samples : sintering, spark plasma sintering, additive manufacturing

A wide range of equipment allows microstructural, structural and textural characterizations as well as evaluation of the properties of use by various physical measurements, thermal analyzes and mechanical tests in controlled environments.

Several equipments have been designed and built in-house and are unique installations combining physical and mechanical measurements, temperature and environmental conditions.

CIRIMAT is also heavily involved in modeling and in the in-depth multiscale characterization of materials.

The available equipments are constantly being developed in our Competence Centers (X-Ray, Spectroscopy, Surfaces, Thermal Analysis, Porosity, Electron Microscopy, Mechanical Tests, Instrument-building, …).

In addition, CIRIMAT makes a strong contribution to the pooling and structuring of research via its participation and support to several platforms and federations: