Physics of processing of plant-based divided materials (PhyProDiv)

Presentation

Last update: 29 January 2020

The physical processes of structuring/destructuring of plant-based materials take place at the scale of interacting elementary objects, such as particles or polymers. The physics of these materials connects the different scales, from the microstructure to the macroscopic properties of the product, and predicts the flow regimes as well as the states of the material during its processing. Controlling and modeling at the scale of phenomena helps i) to understand the mechanical behavior of plant-based materials, ii) to design particles with new functions in food, bio-composites and energy, and iii) to design innovative processes.

In this context, our research group combines experimental, theoretical and numerical approaches to understand the transformations of divided materials from the scale of the constituents to the process with three main objectives:

    • Characterize and describe the particles in terms of shape, surface, volume properties, adhesion, toughness ... Integrate the evolutions of these properties during the process. Evaluate their interactions in the presence of fluids (liquid or gas) or electrostatic field.

    • Determine the macroscopic properties and predict the emergence of structuring regimes as a function of local interactions, particle geometry and external constraints.

    • Study the processes and develop new unit operations based on the phenomena evidenced at the particle scale and on the corresponding operating regimes.

Last update: 29 January 2020