SPN : Soft Polymer Networks

Soft Polymer Networks: From molecular design to macroscopic mechanical properties

The specificity of our group is to focus on polymer science, i.e. we put in the center of our thinking the macromolecular coil: as an entropic spring, as a scaffold to functionalize and as a building block of a more complex networks.

Our scientific approach is that of materials scientists, combining physics, chemistry and mechanics as tools to develop new materials or to better understand the properties and function of existing ones. We generally work with model materials and surfaces which are either synthesized in the laboratory or outside the laboratory and we are specialized in non standard mechanical characterization techniques for situations where important deformation gradients are present such as adherence and fracture of soft materials. Our methodology often combines optical in-situ visualization or a scattering technique, designed to reveal the structure and/or dynamics of the material with a quantitative measurement of the mechanical properties. The goal is always to develop a molecular or mesoscopic interpretation of a macroscopic behaviour.

We work on a variety of projects many of which are inspired by industrial problems but are simplified to be tractable on a more fundamental sense. We try to achieve a good balance between direct industrial collaborations, ANR funded research projects and European research projects to build a bridge between application and fundamental knowledge.

A key ingredient of our teamwork is the breadth and complementarity of the expertises which we have within the same research group which make it a stimulating intellectual environment to carry out a research project. Many students and post-docs are coadvised and learn to use a diverse range of techniques.

Staff

– Costantino Creton, Directeur de Recherches CNRS
– Etienne Barthel. Directeur de Recherches CNRS
– Matteo Ciccotti. Professor ESPCI
– Dominique Hourdet, Professor Sorbonne Université
– Yvette Tran, Maître de Conférences ESPCI, HDR
– Tetsuharu Narita, Chargé de Recherches CNRS, HDR
– Alba Marcellan, Maître de Conférences Sorbonne Université, HDR
– Bruno Bresson. Ingénieur CNRS