THE CTTC IS EQUIPPED WITH A FULL LABORATORY WITH MULTIPLE CHARACTERISATION FACILITIES, SPECIFIC TO THE CERAMICS SECTOR.
The CTTC’s analysis laboratory offers a range of characterisation tools, specific to powders and ceramics. It allows investigations and control of all steps of the manufacturing process, from raw materials to the finished product.
This activity is carried out under the ISO 9001 quality certification.
The analysis laboratory listens to your needs and assists you with your ceramics issues. Discover all of our services here.
The laboratory has a wide range of equipment that are regularly updated and checked.
Download the complete list of our equipment
These are used to characterize physical and chemical properties of ceramic materials.These may be run at any stage of the manufacturing process, as much for a raw material in powder form as for a part of a finished or semi-finished product to carry out intermediary tests.
They allow for :
- confirmation that a raw material is suitable for the project,
- adjustments in the manufacturing process
- product testing during and at the end of the production process.
They are run by :
- a dry or liquid state granulometry laser to test the distribution and size of particles in a powder,
- a specific BET surface and powder mesoporosity analyzer,
- TPR/TPO/TPD chimisorption apparatus for catalyst analysis
- a helium pycnometer to determine the actual density of a powder or solid
- a rheometer to determine flow behavior in suspensions or in ceramic pastes (viscosity, stressthreshold, yield value and thixotropic behavior measurements…)
- An FTIR spectrometer for identifying compounds and determining the composition of a solid or liquid sample
- an optical tensiometer for measuring surface tension and contact angles of a liquid on a substrate
These are for describing the microstructure of ceramic materials; characterizing their morphology by defining the distribution, the shape and the size of the grains (or particles) and the pores. A real investigative tool,these may be run at any stage of the manufacturing process, as much for a raw material in powder form as for a part of a finished or semi-finished product to carry out intermediary tests.
They allow for:
- the uncovering of any potential inconsistencies
- defect analysis
- the running of a local basic chemical analysis
They are run by:
- a scanning microscope, SEM, coupled with an electron probe microanalyser, EPMA, to determine themicrostructure and local basic chemical analysis.
- a mercury intrusion porosimeter to determine the open porosity and the pore size distribution
- a X-ray diffractometer to characterize the crystalline structure (calculation and dosing of existingcrystalline phases, the size of nanometric crystallites, measuring crystal structure parameters…)
- A very high resolution digital microscope (3D observation and dimensional control)
These are for determining and tracking the behavior of a ceramic material according to temperature, through the evolution of its mass, temperature or dimensions.
They allow for :
- the control of a material’s heat treatment parameters (debinding, sintering)
- the identification of phase transformations, state changes, fusions and crystallization…
They are run by :
- a thermobalance fitted with TG, ATG/DTA et TG/DSC probes, respectively for thermogravimetricanalysis (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and differential scanning calorimetry analysis (DSC),
- a horizontal differential dilatometer, for dilatometric analysis by way of a reference material
- a vertical absolute dilatometer, for a precise dilatometric analysis under any type of thermomecanicatmosphere TMA.
These are for determining the mechanical properties of a ceramic material capable of withstanding severe stresses. They are generally run on finished products to check the quality of the manufacturing process.
They allow for :
- working out mechanical resistance while being flexed or compressed
- working out resistance to thermal shock
- characterization of material deformation by calculation of the YOUNG’s modulus (elastic modulus)
- statistical analysis on a material likelihood to break by the calculation of WEIBULL’s modulus
They are run by :
- mechanical test-bench with the ability to test 3 or 4 points bending test and compression tests.
- surface fissure and defect tests by dye penetration.