Part of the research performed at the FCSEL is financed by a Multisectorial Industrial Research Chair in Coatings and Surface Engineering (MIC-CSE). To learn more about this Chair, please choose from the following sub-sections:
To develop a new generation of vacuum- and plasma-based processes and nanostructured coating materials and coating architectures for their use in different industrial sectors of vital importance to Canada.
The research activities will support a dynamic environment for training highly qualified personnel, stimulate research cross-tak between partners thus generating potential synergies between different research topics, and provide strong interaction with our partners and with the research community on national and international levels.
Chair meeting 2017
As the country's second-largest industrial research chair awarded by the NSERC, all fields combined, the MIC-CSE will benefit from a budget of $5.35 million over five years from NSERC ($2.6 million), and from seven partners (a total of $2.75 million): Essilor, Hydro-Québec, Guardian Industries Corp., Pratt & Whitney Canada, Velan, JDS Uniphase and the Canadian Space Agency.
Click here to learn more about our partners.
Research will focus on developing a new generation of non-polluting manufacturing technologies for nanostructured coating materials. These processes make it possible to add successive layers of nanometre-thick films and thicker coating architectures using various materials (metals, ceramics, polymers, nanoparticles or others) on to flat surfaces as well as on three-dimensional objects. Far from being limited to corrosion and wear protection, these "molecular millefeuilles" aim to confer a wide range of functional characteristics to the surfaces: anti-glare, anti-erosion, anti-fog, but also self-controlled (or "smart") optical reflectivity or emissivity, luminescence, sterility and more.
The scope of collaborations within the MIC-CSE Chair reflects the immense variety of industry fields in which multi-layer coating technologies can be applied. The research carried out at Polytechnique will improve the sustainability and effectiveness of materials in sectors as varied as aerospace, energy and manufacturing, as well as optics, photonics and space exploration.
Research program
"The MIC-CSE Chair aims to be above all a place to stimulate and exchange ideas, where partners working in very different areas but sharing common concerns can benefit from top-notch expertise," said Professor Martinu. "This openness strengthens the potential for collaboration and fosters the creation of new areas to explore."
For his part, Polytechnique's Chief Executive Officer Christophe Guy stated: "This synergy between collaborators from various realms creates a particularly stimulating environment for the new generation that is being educated here."
Launched more than 25 years ago, research in the field of advanced materials and nanotechnologies at Polytechnique brings together some 20 researchers today, including about half a dozen in the specific field of surface engineering. Mr. Guy continued: "Thanks to top-tier equipment and the best specialists in the field, this research area is attracting excellent recruits to Polytechnique. Over the next few years, the Chair intends to train more than 15 master's and doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows, a valuable cohort for Canadian industry."
« The possible functionalities are limited only by our imagination! »Professor Ludvik Martinu |
Video to present the chair (in french) :
Information to come...
The world's leading ophthalmic optics company, Essilor designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of lenses to improve and protect eyesight. Its corporate mission is to enable everyone around the world to access lenses that meet his or her unique vision requirements in order to improve everyone's quality of life. To support this mission, the Company allocates around $180 million to research and development every year, in a commitment to continuously bring new, more effective products to market. Essilor reported consolidated revenue of $5.2 billion in 2011 and employs around 48,700 people in some 100 countries (over 1,000 people in Canada).
News and additional information:
- Article dans Le Devoir : Les bénéfices insoupçonnés d'une simple paire de lunettes
Hydro-Québec generates, transmits and distributes electricity, mainly using renewable energy sources, in particular hydroelectricity. It also conducts research in energy-related fields and takes an active interest in energy efficiency. In addition, it works to create value from the technologies that emerge from its research. Hydro-Québec has 37 GW of installed power and its 22 500 employees contribute to an annual turnover of 12 G$ and a net profit of 2.6 G$ (2011 annual report).
Guardian is a diversified global manufacturing company headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, with leading positions in float glass, fabricated glass products, fibreglass insulation and other building materials for commercial, residential and automotive applications. Through its Science & Technology Center, Guardian is at the forefront of innovation including development of high-performance glass coatings and other advanced products. Guardian, its subsidiaries and affiliates employ 18,000 people and operate facilities throughout North America, Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, including 400 employees in Canada (Industries Cover, PQ, $60 M/year).
Founded in 1928, and a global leader in aerospace, Pratt & Whitney Canada is shaping the future of business aviation with dependable, high-technology engines. Every second, a P&WC-powered aircraft takes off or lands somewhere in the world. There are currently more than 49,000 P&WC engines in service on over 28,000 aircraft operated by some 10,000 operators in 200 countries. Pratt & Whitney Canada is the number-one research and development investor in Canadian aerospace and among the top five in Canada for all industries. It accounts for almost 50% of aerospace R&D conducted in Canada with an average of over $400 million every year for the past five years.
Velan is one of the world's leading manufacturers of industrial steel valves. The company was founded by acclaimed inventor and entrepreneur A.K. Velan in 1950, and continues to leverage advanced technical capabilities and innovation to create valves for the power generation, chemical and petrochemical, oil and gas, pulp and paper, mining, cryogenic, and ship-building industries. In 2011, Velan employed 1,995 people across the world who contributed to revenues of more than $450 million. The company has a global network of 15 manufacturing plants in North America, Europe and Asia, as well as four distribution centres and hundreds of distributors all over the globe..
News and additional information:
- Articles dans The Gazette
A leading provider of optical products and test and measurement solutions for the communications industry, the JDSU technology portfolio is a key enabler for optical solutions in industries such as broadband communications, brand enhancement and authentication, manufacturing and energy. Its workforce is made up of 5,000 employees, about 350 of whom are in Canada. Fiscal year 2012 revenues were $1.7 billion.
Established in 1989, the specific mandate of the Canadian Space Agency is to promote the peaceful use and development of space. Its main interests within this Chair include thermal management in satellites, materials performance and stability in the harsh environment of space, and training of manpower.