Skip to main content
Service of Polymers and Composite Materials

Equipments — Polymer Synthesis, Processing & Analysis

SMPC benefits from a comprehensive panel of equipments covering all aspects of its activities — from synthesis to characterisation, processing and additive manufacturing.

Specific analyses can be undertaken on request. Get in touch to discuss your needs.

Additive manufacturing

  • 3D printer FDM multimateriaux — Original Prusa I3 MK3S
  • Stereolithography 3D printer — Ember Autodesk (DLP, 405 nm)
  • Stereolithography 3D printer — FormLabs Form 2 (SLA, 405 nm)
  • Stereolithography 3D printer — Photocentric LC Precision 1.5 (LCD, 450 nm)
  • SLS 3D printer Sinterit Lisa
  • 3D printer FDM A4V4 from 3ntr (up to 450 °C, 3 filaments)
  • 3D filament extruder from 3devo (up to 450 °C, 700 g/h)

Molecular weight

  • Two size-exclusion chromatography systems (Agilent 1200 series) with differential refractive index, UV detection and autosampler — multi-solvent
  • Size-exclusion chromatography (Agilent 1100 series) with RI detector and autosampler — for water-soluble polymers
  • SEC equipped with PL LC 1120 injection pump, RI (ERMA 7517) and RALS/Visc (T60B) — triple-detection (TriSec Win-03)
  • Schott AVS 350 / Ubbelohde automatic capillary viscosimeter
  • Knauer vapor-phase osmometer / tonometer

Fine syntheses (high/low pressure)

  • Three autoclave reactors for high/low pressure polycondensation under inert atmosphere — Autoclave France (50–250 mL)
  • Two Agila PE20 hydraulic presses (high & low temperature)
  • Brabender single-screw extruder (19 mm, 25 D) with ribbon or double-string die
  • UNIVEX calendering machine + conveyor belt at controlled temperature
  • Polyscience cryostat (−40 → +100 °C)
  • Binder, Memmert and Heraeus thermostated vacuum / ventilated ovens
  • Heating baths and Julabo TD6 / Thermal H circulators (T < 250 °C)
  • Eurostar Power Digi-Visc agitators, IKA agitating/heating plates
  • Braun MB-130 glovebox with H₂O & O₂ controllers (< 1 ppm)
  • Brandsonic 2210 E-MTH ultrasonic bath

Polymeric materials melt processing

  • Brabender® blow-film take-off unit
  • Thermo Scientific Process 11 Twin-Screw Extruder (L/D = 40, 11 mm) — 20 g/h to 2.5 kg/h
  • Reactive extrusion (REX): two Leistritz twin-screws (L/D 45) — connectable, ~500 g
  • Two DSM vertical mini-extruders (~15 g)
  • Two Thermo-Haake MiniLab mini-extruders (~6 g) + mini injection machine
  • Ray Ran Babyplast micro-moulding machine (MARTIPLAST)
  • NETSTAL injection moulding machine
  • Rondol two-roll mill (roll diam. 80 mm)
  • 4 Brabender internal mixers (~50 g polymer)
  • MACGI single-screw extruder (14 mm, 24 D) — interchangeable dies, co-extrusion
  • Carver, Hess, Agila & Ray-Ran presses & sample-shaping CNC
  • Vertical / horizontal twin-screw microcompounders (Xplore, Thermo Haake)
  • Micro fibre and cast film lines (Xplore)

Molecular characterisation

  • UV/Visible thermostated spectrophotometer Varian Cary 50 (with optical fibre)
  • Two multinuclear NMR spectrometers (300 & 500 MHz, departmental)
  • FT-IR Bruker Tensor 27 (6000–600 cm⁻¹) with Pike Miracle micro-ATR
  • FT-IR Biorad Excalibur (4000–700 cm⁻¹) with SAFIR Split-pea micro-ATR
  • Brookfield DV-II programmable viscosimeter
  • Krüss DSA10-MK2 tensiometer — pendant-drop & contact-angle methods

Thermal analysis

  • TGA-FTIR/MS: TA Instruments TGA Q5000 with autosampler, coupled to Balzers Thermostar MS and Bruker Tensor 27 FT-IR (gas cell 230 °C, HS MCT detector)
  • TGA-FTIR: TA Instruments Hi-Res TGA 2950 + Biorad Excalibur FT-IR
  • Two standard thermogravimetric analysers
  • Modulated DSC (TA Instruments Q200) with autosampler — RCS90 cooling