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Alain Burr

CNRS Researcher

Center · CEMEF

Discipline(s)
Condensed Matter Physics, Nanosciences, Complex Systems, Molecular Chemistry, Polymers, Process Engineering, Solid Mechanics
Topic(s)
Additive Manufacturing, AI Impact, Biodiversity, Biomaterials, Circularity, Industrial Sovereignty, Personalized and Predictive Medicine, Polymer, Prosthetics, Recycling, Strategic Metals, Sustainable Development

Keywords

Team

PSF - Procédés

Biography

Alain Burr is a researcher whose work focuses on the study of composite materials, polymers, and ceramics, as well as their mechanical, thermal, and optical properties. His research covers a wide range of topics, from bio-based conductive nanocomposites to off-equilibrium crystallization mechanisms, including the analysis of the viscoelastic and tribological behavior of polymers. A significant portion of his work focuses on optimizing manufacturing processes, particularly through the use of advanced techniques such as 3D printing (additive manufacturing) applied to ceramic materials or biocomposites. His work also incorporates sustainable approaches, with a particular focus on the environmental assessment of materials using methods such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). In addition, Alain Burr explores the interactions between microstructure and functional properties, as evidenced by his studies on wear resistance, scratch visibility, and the influence of fillers on the mechanical performance of elastomers and composite membranes.

Publication(s)

Teaching

Introduction to Nanomaterials

Lecturer

- General Introduction - Synthesis and Development - Characterization - Molecular-Scale Modeling - Morphological Modeling and the Nano-Macro Transition - Color Applications - Materials Science Applications - Applications in Pollution Control, Nanoporous Materials, and Catalysis - Applications in Energy - Applications in Nanomedicine - Future Outlook, Industrial and Societal Challenges, Risk Analysis, Toxicity.

Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) track

Guest Lecturer

The Second Year: Discover, Observe, Experiment The two-week elective period is devoted to a mini-project in pairs, in one of the School’s two laboratories (the Materials Center in Evry or the Materials Processing Center in Sophia-Antipolis, with more than 70 faculty members supporting the elective). The topics revolve around a specific industrial project. The focus is on discovering physical, chemical, and mechanical phenomena—and on quantifying them. A detailed report and an oral presentation allow students not only to develop communication skills but, above all, to learn from one another. Some topics include: investigation of a railway brake failure, investigation of non-conformity in metal seals, welding (instrumented testing and numerical modeling), study of foam formation mechanisms for automotive seats, aerogel formation for super-insulation or biomedical applications... The 3rd Year: Understanding, Making Choices, Optimizing The two highlights of the third year are the elective month (starting at the beginning of the academic year) and the personal project, which takes up the rest of the time allocated to the elective. The elective month: “Materials and Engineers” in a specific industrial sector. The elective month is devoted to materials engineering and focuses on a specific industrial sector (2004 and 2005: the automotive industry; 2006 and 2007: aerospace; 2008 and 2009: construction; 2010 and 2011: energy; 2012 and 2013: healthcare; 2014 and 2015: aerospace). The wide range of activities fosters hands-on learning and helps build a cohesive group, enriched by the diverse backgrounds and personalities of both students and teachers: industrial tours: the development, processing, and use of materials in the chosen field; a few lectures given by industry experts; “Industrial Discovery” mini-projects: 5 days in groups of 2 to 4 students at an industrial site, supervised by on-site engineers, working on an engineering problem; a written report (for internal company use) and an oral presentation allow the different groups to share the knowledge and experiences they gained in the field; a few “classes”—which are actually preparatory sessions for the visits and “debriefing” sessions in the form of Q&A sessions with faculty regarding the lectures and industrial visits. The elective project: applying methods and knowledge to solve an industrial problem. These individual elective projects form the backbone of the third year. Defined as early as October, in accordance with each student’s preferences, they focus on a clearly identified industrial problem. Lasting at least 4 months (a total of 8 months for Polytech students in the “specialized track”), they take place at an industrial site under dual supervision: engineers from the company on one hand, and a faculty member from one of the School’s two “Materials” laboratories on the other. The emphasis is on understanding the underlying phenomena and solving the practical problem at hand. Some representative elective topics covered in recent years: selection of a material for a Formula 1 car part (Renault, Viry-Châtillon); modeling of thin films deposited on glass (Saint-Gobain, Thourotte); selection and sizing of a shock-absorbing foam (SNCF, Le Mans); feasibility of coating pistons via plasma spraying (Toyota, Evry—Belgium – Japan); an innovative steel continuous casting process (Vallourec, Aulnoye-Aymeries / Brazil); optimization of the fiber-reinforced polymer injection molding process (Bosch, Germany); analysis of medieval gilded enameled glass (Laboratoire des Musées de France, Paris); prediction of fracture properties of steels for gas pipelines (ArcelorMittal, Ghent, Belgium). acceptance criteria for forging defects (PSA, La Garenne-Colombes); painting defects on automotive plastic body parts (Mécaplast, Monaco) welding of superalloy parts for space launch vehicles (Snecma, Vernon) improvement of non-destructive testing of power plant components (EDF, Saint-Denis) decontamination of concrete used in civil engineering for nuclear power plants (Bouygues, St-Quentin / CEA, Marcoule) Improving the manufacturing of composite parts for the aerospace industry (Dassault, Argenteuil) Material selection for endoscopic probes with integrated microscopes (Mauna Kea Technologies, Paris) Key features of the track: Hands-on experience! The track includes very few courses in the traditional sense: knowledge and skills are acquired through courses offered to all students (core curriculum, specialized courses) and, above all, by sharing each student’s real-world experiences. It’s about experimenting on your own and as part of a team (with dual mentoring by an industrial engineer and a faculty researcher). Intensive group work The diversity and number of students in the track allow everyone to learn from and with one another. This provides effective training in self-directed learning methods that engineers will use throughout their careers to remain key players in their fields of expertise and take control of their professional development. Interdisciplinary Approach The field of materials lies at the intersection of disciplines such as physics, chemistry, mechanics, applied mathematics, and numerical modeling. Elective projects often include both an experimental component and a modeling component, providing a well-rounded education in materials science. The track covers ceramics, “plastics,” metals, and alloys, as well as ancient artifacts (archaeology) and the latest innovations (“biological” steels, bio-based and non-bio-based aerogels, etc.).

PhD supervision

  • 2024 ASER: Cold Plasma Treatments of Bio-based Fibers: Towards a Complete Eco-design Chain and Use of Bio-composites for Industry 4.0 PERRIER-MICHON Flavien
  • 2019 Study of the thermo-mechanical behavior and fracture of iron oxide at room temperature and high temperature. CLAVERIE Victor
  • 2015 New protective coating for thin-film resistive components CAZAKO Catheline