a). Overall objectives:

Polymeric, composite, ceramic and metal materials exposed directly or indirectly to the weather are likely to degrade. These degradations affect not only the external appearance but also other physical and chemical properties of the parts concerned. Polymers and composites, like any other material, can degrade under the action of the loading applied to them or the exposure of natural or artificial radiation.

These materials are mainly sensitive to several degradation phenomena. Other factors of degradation are also to be considered. These factors can be of thermal origin with consequent loss of physical properties and yellowing.

b). Scientific Foundations:

There are different aging mechanisms that can be classified into 2 families:

• Physical aging.

• Chemical aging.

The objective of this team is to study the degradation of new materials namely:

• The influence of the nature of aging on their mechanical and surface properties;

• Variation in impact resistance;

• Friction resistance behavior (influence of the contact geometry, friction parameters, nature of the antagonists, ...);

• Study of degradation mechanisms of polymers and composites;

• Corrosion phenomena (factors influencing the chemical degradation, influence of the corroding medium, influence of the corrosion on the mechanical properties, ...).

Keywords:

Natural aging, artificial aging, degradation, impact resistance, corrosion, mechanical properties, friction, traction, flexion, compression.