Durability and Engineering of Materials

PRESENTATION OF THE CENTER:

The main objective of the “Durability and Engineering of Materials” center is to assess the durability of several types of materialsunder relevant environments, understanding their failure modes, improve their performances and raise their lifetime. They work closely with industry to:

  • Optimize the choice of materials;
  • Increase the service lifetime of the components;
  • Reduce maintenance costs.

Outdoor test activities with parallel accelerated laboratory testing are conducted enabling an understanding of materials degradation, guidelines and improved materials are also developed.

RESEARCH AREAS:

The activity of the center covers two aspects:

1- Durability of materials used in the field of solar energy

In this area, the center is interested in studying the sustainability of solar components (mirrors, photovoltaic modules, metal structures, etc…).

2- Durability and engineering of materials used in industry

In this area, the center’s activity is focused on:

  • Development and optimization of new materials to improve their performance;
  • Failure analysis of metal components;
  • Design of laboratory testing rigs to simulate real working conditions of materials;
  • Optimization of industrial manufacturing processes through the in-depth study of all parameters (process and treatment).
SKILLS DOMAINS:
  • Physical and chemical behavior of materials;
  • Mechanisms of degradation and rupture of materials;
  • Analysis of environmental constraints;
  • Design of experimental test facilities;
  • Concentrated solar power systems and photovoltaics.
AREAS OF ACTIVITY:
  • Renewable energies: Raising the lifetime of functional materials for concentrated solar power (CSP) and photovoltaics (PV) technologies;
  • Railways: Detailed microscopic and chemical analyzes, mechanical, metal and stamping tests;
  • Chemical industry: Assembly of test benches, study of corrosion phenomena;
  • Steel and mining: Metallurgical and mechanical studies;
  • Coatings: Evaluating and rankingcoatings performanceregarding dust repellent properties, erosion and corrosion.

Composites & Nanocomposites

PRESENTATION OF THE CENTER:

The “Composites and Nano-composites” center develops multidisciplinary research themes relating to the manufacturing, processing and prototyping of composites, nano-composites and bio-composites, for applications in different industrial sectors.

The center has an implementation laboratory, notably equipped with industrial extruders and rheometers, allowing the manufacture and characterization of composite materials.

RESEARCH AREAS:
  • Improvement of the different properties of the material: rigidity, ductility, thermal stability, recycling, rheology;
  • Development, optimization of the manufacturing process and evaluation of the performance of composite, nano-composite and bio-composite materials;
  • Development of new additives for the manufacture of plastics (oxo-biodegradable);
  • Chemical modification of reinforcing particles;
  • Development of new heterocyclic surfactants;
  • Construction of chemo library;
  • Promotion of Moroccan clays, polymers and bio-polymers, phosphate derivatives and natural fibers.
SKILLS DOMAINS:
  • Organic chemistry;
  • Nanocomposite;
  • Nanocharge;
  • Functionalization and characterization;
  • Composites;
  • Rheology;
  • Mechanical characterization;
  • Continuum mechanics ;
  • Fluid mechanics ;
  • Materials for energy storage;
  • Materials for water treatment;
  • Organic synthesis;
  • Structural elucidation.
AREAS OF ACTIVITY:
  • Automotive: development of new composite materials reinforced with clay, natural fibers and new nanocomposite materials.
  • Aeronautics: manufacture of Nano-composites based on purified Moroccan clays.
  • Chemical Industry: chemistry and organic chemistry for the paint and phosphate industries.
  • Pharmaceutical industry: new heterocyclic systems for therapeutic purposes.
  • Building materials: development of new prefabricated composites.

VARENA

PRESENTATION OF THE CENTER:

The Center “Valorization of Natural Resources (VARENA)” develops R&D projects related to the needs of Moroccan industrial and socio-economic development. The center aims to valorize Moroccan biomass and natural resources into high added value products with applications in the fields of agriculture, materials, environment, energy and sustainability. The developed projects are based on a multidisciplinary approach to materials, biomaterials, nanomaterials and catalysis through design with a specific interest accorded to the development of fertilizer’s formulations and coating materials to design new slow/controlled release fertilizers.
The VARENA center is fully equipped with advanced technologies for fertilizer’s synthesis, granulation and coating. Backed by the materials platform, provides various analyzes and carries out structural, morphological, thermal, textural and mechanical studies of materials on a micrometric and nanometric scale.

SKILLS DOMAINS:
  • Fertilizers chemistry
  • Design, development and characterization of materials;
  • Formulation for the coating of fertilizers, glues, paints and dyes;
  • Structural, physicochemical, thermal, morphological, textural, mechanical and rheological analyzes and characterizations.
AREAS OF ACTIVITY:
  • Chemical industry: organic chemistry for fertilizers, dyeing, painting, etc;
  • Building materials: hydrophobic formulation of coatings (Concrete, cement) and rheological and particle size, physico-chemical and mechanical studies;
  • Textiles: characterization and development of intelligent textiles for multifunctional applications;
  • Environment: green chemistry, detection of drug residues in wastewater.