ESIREIMSEcole nationale Supérieure d’Ingénieurs de Reims

The Engineering School from the University of Reims

3 majors:

- Packaging engineering- Energy engineering- Urban and Environnemental engineering

Packaging

• Mechanical behavior• Chemical engineering / plastics• Interaction between content and container• Biodegradation

Studies and research concerning all aspects of packaging. From the development of new materials for packaging,

to the end of their life, through their mechanical behavior during transport.

Packaging - Mechanical behavior

• Study of the mechanical behavior of packaging in theglobal supply chain:

- Static constraints (stacking)- Vibration constraints- Shocks- Drop

• Modeling of the mechanical behavior of packaging

Packaging - Mechanical behavior

• Analysis of logistics circuits,• Development of specific protocols,• Validation of packaging solutions,• Product Fragility Measures,• Shock absorption measures,• Ultra-fast camera tracking,• Drop and shock test,• Design assistance,• Vibration test

Packaging - Mechanical behavior

Rezak AYADProfessor at ESI REIMS / URCA

Research laboratory : ITheMM (Thermal, Mechanic and Material Institut)Team : Applied Mechanic and Civil EngineeringAxes : Mechanical of BioBased Composites

Research activities :Theme 1 : Durability of Biobased compositesTheme 2 : Special finite elements

Mechanical of BioBased Composites

Theme 1 : Durability of Biobased composites

Mechanical behavior in wet environments Static loadings : tensile, bending Dynamic loadings : vibrations (damping study),

impact and post-impact Damage evolution Materials : composites with natural fibers (flax, hemp, kenaf,

alfa, …) – woven & non woven, short fibers, compounds, …)

Racine carrée du temps (s0.5)0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

Abso

rptio

n d'

eau

(%)

0

1

2

3

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Modèle de Fick (3D)

20 x 20 mm2

50 x 50 mm2

100 x 100 mm2

180 x 180 mm2

Diffusion suivant zSorption curve

twill woven

Déformation (%)0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0 1,2 1,4 1,6 1,8 2,0 2,2 2,4 2,6 2,8

Cont

rain

te (M

Pa)

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10

2030

40

5060

70

8090

100

110120

Non vieilli

Vieilli(30 jours)

A

B

B

C

C

Stress-Strain curve (tensile)

Aged

Unaged

Theme 2 : Special finite elements

Modelling – Tools development for composites Special finite elements (2D, 3D and shells) Numerical estimation of mechanical properties

(ex: Projected fiber approach, see below)

2D - meshing 3D - meshing2D – post-processing

Packaging – Polymer and plastics

• Polymer blends, multilayer materials, composites andnanocomposites based on polymers of natural andsynthetic origin

• Interactive materials (active / smart)• Plasticized starch-based materials in association with

biodegradable polymers (PCL, PLA, polyurethane, ...).

Packaging – Plastics processing• Extrusion (or coextrusion)• Internal mixer• Injection• Thermoforming

Pre-mixed granules

Extruded foam sheets

Packaging – Plastics processing

• Analysis of the coextrusion process(instabilities and interfacial compatibilities)

• Development of processes for usingpolysaccharides (starch, ...) as part of theirnon-food recovery (biodegradablepackaging, ...)

• Reactive extrusion: chemical modification,grafting and development ofcompatibilizers.

Packaging – Polymer properties• Viscoelasticity (DMTA, rheometer...),• Mechanical properties (traction, compression, ...),• Thermal properties (DSC, ATG, DMTA ...),• Physico-chemical properties (morphology, contact angle, ...)• Rheological properties (rheometer, flow index, ...)• Determination of the microstructure of multiphase/multilayer materials

(IR-microscopy, image analysis, ...)• Study of interfaces on multi-phase systems• Modeling of the mechanical behavior of materials in a predictive

approach.

Packaging – Polymer properties

Catherine LACOSTEAssociate Professor at ESI REIMS / URCA

Research laboratory : ITheMM (Thermal, Mechanic and Material Institut)Team : Innovative materials and Process [MaPI]

Axes : Processing of BioBased Composites and recycled polymers

Biobased or recycled platics

• Starch foams (reactive extrusion, effect of formulation, PLA linen fibersand CaCO3…)

• Coloration of PLA with acacia flower• Fibers enzymatic treatments effect on the bio-composite (poly butylene

succinate/date palm fibers) properties• Enzyme treated Tunisian Alfa fibers reinforced Polylactic Acid (PLA)

composites: An investigation in morphological, thermal, mechanicaland water resistance properties

• Composite PE_PP/sludge• Cosmetics packaging recycling (prediction of the yellowing of SAN and

ABS during processing)

Biobased or recycled platics

• Large amounts of deinking sludge (DS) are generated in millsproducing recycled fiber from recycled paper. These mills remove theprinting ink from paper fibers of recycled paper and this processcreates a sludge.

• Polymer composites had been mixed from DS in combination with PEand PP

Incorporation of deinking sludge in polymer matrices from PP and PE.

Lien Verstrepen

Packaging – Interaction (transfer process between content and container)

• Study of substances transferred by Wood, Plastics,….

• Study of permeability, diffusion, solubility of polymer materials- Measurement of permeabilities to oxygen, water vapor on flat and

transformed materials- Study of interactions at liquid / solid interfaces : measurement of partitioncoefficients, determination of diffusion coefficients, solubility parameters

Packaging – Interaction

• Technics used:– extractions (Soxhlet, Thermo desorption)– identification (GC-MS, IR)– properties characterization (IR, DSC, Permeability, surface energy…)

Florence FricoteauxAssociate Professor at ESI REIMS / URCA

Research laboratory : ITheMM (Thermal, Mechanic and Material Institut)

Team : Innovative materials and Process [MaPI]

Axes : Transfer of substances

Packaging Interaction

Packaging – Biodegradation• Development of a method for measuring biodegradability, enabling it to

be predicted in a given biotope.– Study of a fast and predictive method for measuring the biodegradability

of materials.– Design and construction of an automated device for the study of the

carbon cycle and material / microorganism interactions, measurement onliquid and solid medium.

– Development of knowledge tools for biodegradation mechanisms.– Implementation of an inoculum standardization protocol.– Implementation of preliminary biodegradation tests of materials in a

composting environment.– Development of a landfill test on sites, burial of a range of agromaterials.– Establishment of laboratory / environment transfer equations allowing

prediction of behavior in the environment.

Packaging – Biodegradation

• Microbiological and enzymological studies.• Identification and characterization of strains and enzymes

that can degrade polymeric materials under the action.• Study of the synergistic effects resulting from the

combined action of enzymes or microbial strains for thedegradation of polymers.

• Characterization of the influence of the structure ofpolymers partially on the efficiency of the enzymatic ormicrobial attack.

Once the CO2 level had stabilized, thefoam samples were added to thebioreactors and mixed with the activatedcompost

Green compost was placed in a closed glassbioreactors for 4 to 5 days at 58°C and 70–80%RH for biological activity renewal (CO2)

The cumulated CO2 released bymicroorganism was detected by aninfrared gas analyzer

According to European EN 13432 standard

Emmanuel GUILLONProfessor at ESIReims / URCA

Research laboratory: ICMR UMR CNRS 7312 (MolecularChemistry Institute of Reims)

Team: Coordination ChemistryGroup: Environmental Chemistry

Research activities: Fate of organic and inorganiccontaminants in the environnement

Environmental Chemistry

- Ecodynamics of contaminants : transfer,bioavailability and degradation

- Interaction between metal and emergingpollutants

- Cocktail effect on environmental quality(water, soil, sediment)

- Impact of biosolid spreading on pollutantsfate

- Fate of « technological critical elements » inthe environment (Ga, Ge, In, Te, Nb, Ta, Tl, Ptgroup elements and rare earth elements)

Multi-scale approach frommacroscopic to molecular

Metallic trace elements Pesticides Pharmaceuticals HAP Nanoparticles Microplastics (from packaging) …

Packaging – Prototyping

• Design, conception, manufacture of packaging,• Packaging graphics,• CFAO Cardboard,• Foam cushioning,• 3D object (machining & 3D printing),• Thermoforming (mold & objects),• Virtual packaging (virtual reality),• Technical drawing

Energetics

• Measurement of thermophysical properties of materials,– thermal diffusivity,– thermal conductivity, specific heat

• Thermal imaging of hot or cold areas,• Humidity detection, thermal bridges in buildings,

– electric hot spots,– overheating phenomenon linked to mechanical wear,

• Temperature measurement with and without contact,• Data acquisition and mapping

– thermocouples, pyrometers, infrared thermography camera

Sustainability of urban planning2 research centers in Reims University:

> Habiter

> CRDT Centre de Recherche Droit et Territoire

3 main research themes:

The production of new models of sustainable urban planning:> a theoretical and critical approach of these models> the effects of the application of these urban models

on urban lifestyles

• Energy transition of territories• The social dimension of socio-ecological systems

Sustainability of urban planning

Sandra MALLET -Associate professor in urban planning

ESIReims- IATEUR - Laboratoire Habiter

Research theme: Time-oriented planning for sustainability:

- Temporalities of urban production/Time as a strategic tool for planning

Research program : UrbaTime (ANR, 2018-2022): https://urbatime.hypotheses.org/

- The construction of urban rhythms by urban policiesResearch program:> Smartnights (ANR, 2018-2021) : https://anr.fr/Project-ANR-18-CE41-0005> Nights in intermediate cities (Région Grand Est, 2016-2020)

Urban and Environmental engineering