Missions

The research work aims to understand the impact of aging on the chemical structure of diene elastomers. The main objective is to understand the influence of light temperature on the (bio)degradation of elastomers in order to identify essential markers (oxidized species, macromolecular architecture, etc.) allowing to improve the biodegradability of these materials. Particular attention will be paid to the evolution of the architecture and microstructure of elastomers which can be strongly modified by crosslinking and/or chain scissions reactions during aging, these changes being the key parameters to understand biodegradability.

Activités

The chemical modifications and the evolution of the architecture resulting from the aging of the polymer will be analyzed using several techniques (IR and UV-visible spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography SEC, DSC and GC-MS, LC- MS for the identification of degradation products), DMTA, surface analyzes will be performed using atomic force microscopy (AFM). In this context, the development of atomic force microscopy (AFM) for the study of polymer degradation is a major objective of the laboratory.
One of the goal of the subject will be to develop these different techniques, in order to complete and highlight the structure/properties relationships during aging.

Compétences

The candidate has a PhD in the field of materials or analytical chemistry.
Several skills will be essential to successfully complete this project:
- Strong theoretical knowledge on the physicochemical properties of polymer materials
- An experimental/theoretical backgound on polymer materials, spectroscopy and analytical chemistry will be necessary.
- An expertise on the techniques for characterizing polymer materials and their aging would also be appreciated.
- We are looking for a hard-working, enthusiastic and autonomous candidate. Rigorous, methodical that will be able to work with different teams.
- A very good level of English (written and oral) is required.
The post-doctoral fellow will be required to publish his research work in reference journals and present his/her results at international conferences.

Contexte de travail

MMICHELIN is engaged in the design, manufacturing and marketing of tires, high-tech materials and mobility and service solutions; MICHELIN carries out research and development activities to develop solutions through its products and services to promote sustainable mobility. In this context, MICHELIN and the Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrnas (ICCF) with a broad spectrum of activities (Chemistry and Environment, Chemistry and Materials, Chemistry andbiollogy) have joined their forces to create a joint laboratory “BioDLab” aiming to develop methods for evaluating the abiotic and biotic degradation of diene elastomers.

The postdoctoral position will take place within the Photochemistry team (POPPI theme) at the ICCF which is developing a physico-chemical approach to the photochemical/thermal behavior and durability of polymers. A multi-scale methodology of polymer degradation has been developed in order to characterize the evolution of the chemical structure of polymers at the molecular scale and the impact of the chemical structure on the degradation of macroscopic properties.

Contraintes et risques

nothing to declare

Informations complémentaires

nothing to declare