Grenoble INP Rubrique Institut 2022

Carnot Institute PolyNat

The short term goal of the Carnot Institute PolyNat is to develop hybrid materials from the self-assembly of elementary bricks making up the vegetal material – glycopolymers, nanocristals, cellulose fibres – whether modified or not with components from fossil resources. In the longer run, it develops fully biosourced materials.
The key players involved in this Carnot Institute are CNRS, the Pulp and paper research and technical laboratory (CTP), the Management association of EFPG, Grenoble INP and the Joseph Fourier University.


Role

  • To understand the structure-property relationship on various scales
  • To deepen knowledge related to organisation of natural glycopolymers and fibres on a nano- and microscopic scale
  • To give value to biosourced and functional materials of the laboratory up to industrial production

Key figures

  • 10.3 million Euros in partnership research
  • A consolidated budget of 16 million Euros
  • 180 patent portfolio
  • 142 top level publications

When

First approval in 2011 for four years

Where

The University Campus
601 rue de la Chimie
Saint Martin d’Hères

The stakeholders

  • CNRS
  • CTP
  • The Management association of EFPG
  • Grenoble INP and Joseph Fourier University

Technical laboratories and research platforms

260 Researchers, Engineers, Post-doctoral candidates (including 80 Doctoral candidates)
The Carnot Institute PolyNat is composed of a technical industrial centre and four research laboratories:
  • The Centre of Research on Vegetable Macromolecules (Cermav - UPR CNRS 5301)
  • The Pulp and paper research and technical laboratory (CTP)
  • The Laboratory of Pulp and paper science and graphic arts (LGP2 - UMR 5518 CNRS, Grenoble-INP, Agefpi)
  • The laboratory of Rheology and Processes (Rheology - UMR 5520 CNRS, Grenoble INP, UJF)
  • The laboratory of Soils, Solids, Structures and Risks (3SR – Equipe /CoMHet - UMR 5521 CNRS, Grenoble-INP, UJF)
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Two platforms:
TekLiCell and Chimie-Nanobio

[style3;Taking things a step further
The core business of Carnot Institute PolyNat is materials, mechanical engineering, processes and chemistry. It also has strong expertise in micro and nanotechnologies, energy, transportation, environment, natural resources and technologies for health.

Against the backdrop of declining use of fossil carbon, this strategy will make it possible to gradually substitute fossil carbon with renewable carbon by promoting a more rapid penetration of the industrial sectors and innovative applications.

The Carnot Institute PolyNat will help to meet five scientific and technological challenges:
  • Use of the heterogeneity of the raw material on a nano and microscopic scale
  • Control of self-assembly and nano-organisation of natural glycopolymers with the aim of obtaining high added value applications
  • Control of the properties of nanocristals and of cellulose microfibrils
  • Control and transformation of the properties of biosourced products in order to obtain the target functionalities
  • Eco-processes, from development of the material to the industrial process: proof of the industrial concept at the pilot scale (large volume and large surface area)