It is crucial for the development of new coatings, just as for the control of pieces from well-known technologies, to be able to carry out characterizations in order to qualify and quantify their mechanical, physical and chemical properties.

Since 2009, CITRA has acquired some machines dedicated to its activities: first by investing in characterization equipment well-fitted for its needs of expertise issued by the industrial sector and, secondly, and by having access to research material thanks to its partnerships with the IRCER laboratory and the ENSIL-ENSCI engineering school.

Customed Characterization

Certified ISO 9001, CITRA offers services conform with the technical needs of its customers. In order to do that, the structure carries out “custom” characterizations based on personalized quotations or cross-sectional characterizations integrated into longer-term projects, while maintaining the shortest deadlines possible.

In addition, the implementation of CITRA inside the premises of ENSIL-ENSCI gives us access to the following characterizations :

  • Nanoindentation
  • Laser granulometry
  • Brookfield Viscometer
  • Helium porosimeter
  • Scratch test

CITRA also has a panel of preparation equipment allowing it to adapt its preparation ranges according to customer needs.

Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (MEB FEG)

In the domain of surface treatments, microscopic observation is an key element of analysis for the understanding and the good realization of coatings. In order to ensure the best quality of service to its customers and partners, CITRA has chosen to invest in a Karl Zeiss SUPRA 40 SEM-FEG system. It characteristics ensures a very interesting versatility by allowing classic observations up to high resolution observations (magnification x500,000). Equipped with an EDS probe, this microscope also makes it possible to perform very localized or global elemental analyzes. Thanks to this equipment, CITRA has a better control of its coatings and is able to propose complete offers (coating + characterization) or characterization expertise only.

Characterizations offered :

  • Visual observations
  • Micronic and nanometric measurements
  • Structural and topographic analyzes
  • Chemical contrast analysis (BSD)
  • Elemental mapping
  • Determination of the porosity rate in cross-section