After completing a Master's degree in chemical sciences at the University of Liège, Florent started his research work with a cotutelle doctoral program in October 2021, as part of a European Marie Curie project. The aim of the European project is to develop alternatives to produce polyurethanes without the isocyanates, a key compound, in order to adapt to changing European regulations that restrict their use for toxicity reasons.
Among the twelve PhD students involved in the project (NIPU-EJD), Florent studied the development of isocyanate-free polyurethane foams (polymers containing gas) for use in thermal insulation.
“We had to carry out in-depth research into fundamental chemistry, in order to find the chemical tools to produce the same type of polymer, without isocyanate, and also to produce gas to make a foam.”
Complementary academic and industrial players
During his PhD, Florent worked in two academic laboratories, one in Bordeaux and the other in Liège, as part of the cotutelle doctoral program. The first (LCPO) specializes in the valorization of renewable resources (biomass, wood, biological waste, etc.), while the second (CERM) specializes in the use and valorization of carbon dioxide: “The interest of the project was also to be able to combine these two areas of expertise and find more environmentally-friendly precursors to replace isocyanates.”
Florent also benefited from a period of several months at an industrial company specializing in polyurethane foams for thermal insulation. This was an opportunity to immerse himself in the industrial environment and test his foams using the facilities of the companies: "It was the first time this type of foam had been used in this industrial laboratory. It was very interesting to follow the transition between academic and industrial constraints, and to make adaptations in order to achieve scale-up."
Science and technology award
Four years of research concisely presented in fifteen minutes… A challenging but successful exercise for Florent, who was awarded the Science and technology award at the end of the thesis prize auditions: "I'm used to presenting my thesis to an audience of experts, but it's very different to address an interdisciplinary jury. In my opinion, it's important, because you have to know how to communicate about science, and more particularly chemistry and polymers, which are not always well perceived."
"This award is an honor and a recognition of the work accomplished, as well as for all the teams who accompanied me: PhD students from other universities, researchers, engineers, technicians... I experienced a real human adventure during this PhD, and I learnt a lot from these encounters."
Florent has been pursuing a post-doctorate in Spain, at the Catalan Institute for Chemical Research (ICIQ), still in the field of polymers and materials. His aim is to continue developing and studying new materials, in response to concrete problems, starting from an understanding of the underlying chemistry.