Laboratory characterization of various solid materials, including nanometric powders, catalysts, mine tailings, rocks, ceramics, rubbers, plastics and thermoplastics.
The Materials Research and Analysis Platform (PRAM) has over 20 cutting-edge scientific devices and brings together a number of professionals (chemists, biologists, physicians). We have been involved in research work with university professor-researchers and research centres for close to 20 years, and also provide services to businesses. The platform offers its partners and clients access to ultraspecialized techniques for microstructural, thermal and chemical analyses, and enables everyone to benefit from the support of a multidisciplinary team of professionals in different areas of materials research, analysis and characterization. To name just a few of our skills, we can note X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which, with a delay-line detector (DLD), enables the identification of the chemical composition of materials surfaces; and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, which, by using a reaction chamber coupled with a high-resolution detector, enables the monitoring of crystalline states changes of a compound under controlled atmosphere and temperature. The platform is also equipped with software for Rietveld analyses.
Laboratory analysis services using a variety of scientific equipment, including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray microtomography (microCT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), surface chemical characterization (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy ‒ XPS), Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface porosimetry, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and many more.
- Aerospace and satellites
- Agriculture, animal science and food
- Automotive
- Chemical industries
- Clean technology
- Construction (including building, civil engineering, specialty trades)
- Consumer durables
- Consumer non-durables
- Defence and security industries
- Education
- Energy
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Forestry and forest-based industries
- Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
- Manufacturing and processing
- Mining, minerals and metals
Specialized labs and equipment
| Equipment | Function |
|---|---|
| SC632, TCH600 and TruSpec Micro | Quantification of copper, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen (CHNS/O) |
| Hydro 2000S laser particle size analyzer | Analysis of particle size dispersion |
| ASAP 2020 physisorption analyzer | Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface analysis, size distribution and pore volume |
| Photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) | Surface chemical characterization (nano depth) |
| Secondary ion mass spectrometer (SIMS) | Surface elemental composition |
| X-ray micro-scanner | 2D and 3D X-ray imaging |
| Powder diffractometer (XRD) with in situ chamber (900°) | Identification and quantification of crystalline phases |
| X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer | Identification and quantification of chemical elements |
| Laser flash analyzer | Measurement of materials’ thermal diffusivity |
| Thermal analyzers: thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), mass spectrometry (MS) | Measurement of physical and chemical changes |
| Variable pressure scanning electron microscope (VPSEM) | Imaging |
| High-resolution scanning electron microscope (HRSEM) | Powerful magnification imaging |
| Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) unit linked to the HRSEM | Identification and quantification of chemical elements |
| Transmission electron microscope (TEM) | Imaging with ultra-fine cold cuts |
| Chemisorb 2750 | Measure of active sites quantity at the surface sample |