Materials Research and Analysis Platform (PRAM)

Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec
What the facility does

Laboratory characterization of various solid materials, including nanometric powders, catalysts, mine tailings, rocks, ceramics, rubbers, plastics and thermoplastics.

Areas of expertise

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.

Research services

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.

Sectors of application
  • 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
EquipmentFunction
SC632, TCH600 and TruSpec MicroQuantification of copper, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen (CHNS/O)
Hydro 2000S laser particle size analyzerAnalysis of particle size dispersion
ASAP 2020 physisorption analyzerBrunauer-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-scanner2D and 3D X-ray imaging
Powder diffractometer (XRD) with in situ chamber (900°)Identification and quantification of crystalline phases
X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzerIdentification and quantification of chemical elements
Laser flash analyzerMeasurement 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 HRSEMIdentification and quantification of chemical elements
Transmission electron microscope (TEM)Imaging with ultra-fine cold cuts
Chemisorb 2750Measure of active sites quantity at the surface sample