Beginning: December 2025
Supervisors: CARRIERE Pascal, FAHS Armand, PRAUD-TABARIES Annie
This PhD study focuses on the development and understanding of new three-dimensional recyclable polymer matrices designed for applications in marine structures, including the naval and offshore wind sectors. The objective is to investigate the ageing mechanisms occurring in humid environments that affect these materials. The work concentrates on innovative vitrimer-type polymer materials.
The approach relies on a multi-scale characterization strategy, ranging from the molecular to the macroscopic scale, using microscopy tools (SEM, AFM), spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, Raman, NMR, fluorescence), and material property analysis methods (DSC, DMA).
The overall goal is to build or improve robust analytical models describing ageing kinetics in marine environments, integrating physical, chemical, and mechanical couplings. These models will help identify critical zones within the materials and guide their design toward greater durability. The originality of this PhD also lies in the use of fluorescent probes sensitive to internal stress, polarity changes, and macromolecular mobility, serving as quantitative indicators of humid ageing and water diffusion. The project follows a highly multidisciplinary approach, spanning from probe synthesis to the chemical, physico-chemical, and thermo-mechanical characterization of polymeric and composite networks.