Internship : Development and preliminary characterization of vitrimer-matrix composites: toward recyclable and reconfigurable materials

Unit: Research Center Materials and Processes (CERI MP)

Line Manager : Dr. LEROY – Pr. LAGARDÈRE – Pr. SAMUEL

Type of contract and duration: 6-month internship

Workplace: IMT Nord Europe Research Centre, DOUAI

Context:

Public establishment belonging to IMT (Institut Mines-Télécom), placed under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, IMT Nord Europe has three main objectives: providing our students with ethically responsible engineering practice enabling them to solve 21st century issues, carrying out our R&D activities leading to outstanding innovations and supporting territorial development through innovation and entrepreneurship. Ideally positioned at the heart of Europe, 1 hour away from Paris, 30 min from Brussels and 1h30 from London, IMT Nord Europe has strong ambitions to become a main actor of the current industrial transitions, digital and environmental, by combining education and research on engineering and digital technologies.

Located on two main campuses dedicated to research and education in Douai and Lille, IMT Nord Europe offers research facilities of almost 20,000m² in the following areas:

•              Digital science,

•              Energy and Environment,

•              Materials and Processes.

For more détails, visit the School’s website : www.imt-nord-europe.fr

Internship Context :

Nowadays, composite materials play a key role in many industrial sectors—including aerospace, transportation, energy, and sports—thanks to their excellent strength-to-weight ratio and long-term durability. However, most current composites rely on thermoset matrices whose irreversible covalent crosslinks make recycling extremely difficult. This limitation is a major barrier to their integration into a circular economy, at a time when environmental and regulatory requirements are becoming increasingly stringent.

To address this challenge, a new generation of polymers has emerged: vitrimers. Introduced in the early 2010s, they represent an innovative class of materials capable of combining the mechanical performance of thermosets with the reprocessability of thermoplastics. Their key feature lies in the presence of dynamic crosslinks that can reorganize under external stimuli (typically heat or a catalyst), enabling repair, recyclability, and repeated reshaping of the material without significant loss of properties.

The development of vitrimer-based composites opens promising perspectives for designing high-performance, durable, and reusable structural materials. Nevertheless, their implementation still raises several scientific and technological challenges: understanding the thermomechanical behavior of the matrix, identifying suitable processing parameters, controlling fiber/matrix interfacial conditions, and evaluating repairability or recycling potential.

The proposed internship is fully aligned with this innovation dynamic. It builds on the expertise of the Research Center Materials and Processes (CERI MP) in the development of low-environmental-impact composites and the optimization of associated manufacturing processes. Positioned at the intersection of the research themes “Advanced Materials and Processes” and “Circular Economy & Eco-Materials,” this work represents a first foundational step toward a future ambitious research project.

Objective:

This internship is part of a research and development initiative. The main objective is to develop and characterize vitrimer-matrix composites, exploring their properties and their potential for recyclable and repairable applications.

Tasks:

The intern’s missions will include the following:

• Familiarization with the scientific and technological context

• Experimental characterization (thermal, rheological, mechanical) of a vitrimer resin

• Identification and testing of a suitable processing method (injection molding, compression molding, etc.)

• Manufacturing and mechanical characterization of vitrimer-based composites

• Evaluation of the repairability and recyclability of these composites

Expected outcomes include defining optimal processing conditions, validating mechanical performance, and demonstrating the potential of vitrimers for circular and sustainable composites.

Candidate Profile (Prerequisites / Degree):

This internship is intended for an engineering student or a Master’s thesis student with solid foundations in at least one of the following areas: materials science, polymer science/plastics engineering, characterization methods, composite materials. Prior experience with vitrimers or composite materials will be appreciated.

Soft Skills : Autonomy, rigor, experimental mindset, ability to work in a multidisciplinary team

Technical Skills : Polymer and composite characterization, composite processing

Knowledge : Polymers and composites, characterization techniques

Conditions :

The job is to be filled as to January 2026 for a period of 6 months.

Information and application methods :

•          For any information on the missions, please contact Dr. Adélaïde LEROY, Assistant Professor, adelaide.leroy@imt-nord-europe.fr

•          For any administrative information, please contact the Human Resources Department : jobs@imt-nord-europe.fr  

•          In addition, the position can be adapted for a disabled person.

Deadline date for submissions: Dec. 15, 2025