The C2MA (Centre des Matériaux des Mines d’Alès) has 90 people in 3 different research teams. The main research team deals with polymeric advanced materials (MPA) and is organized in 5 research topics, one dealing with « compatibilization and surfaces & interfaces functionnalization ». In this topic, we strive to design new surface modification of various fillers to attain particular mechanical, thermal and fire properties. The objective of this presentation is to show how the chemical modification of a certain variety of reinforcements (natural fibers, phyllosilicates, silica nanoparticles) can enhance the final properties of the polymer composite. Three main examples were retained for three distinct purposes:

-phosphorus modification of flax fibers in a PBS/flax biocomposite to enhance its fire behavior

-A sulfo-fluorinated chemical grafting on sepiolite and its introduction in NafionÒ membranes to improve the electrochemical performances in PEM fuel cells

Isotropic and anisotropic(Janus)  design of modified silica NPs to achieve particular morphologies in polymer blends.

Aurélie Taguet received her Ph.D. in the field of polymer chemistry from the University of Montpellier-2 (2005). She continued with a postdoc fellowship at the Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal, in the team of prof. B. Favis. She is currently assistant professor at the Ecole des Mines d'Alès, in the Centre of Materials (C2MA), in the Advanced Polymer Materials (MPA) division. Her research interests include the effect of functionalization of fillers (organic and inorganic) on the mechanical properties and fire behavior of thermoplastic and thermoset matrices.