CORE BUSINESS
The Materials Research and Technology department (MRT) is a department of the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST). MRT pools its skills and technologies to improve materials technologies for the industry, including the space sector.
Our research and technology activities rely on the following fields of expertise:
- Nanomaterials and nanotechnology
- Composite materials
- Manufacturing technologies
- Scientific instrumentation
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Specific to the space sector, MRT activities target five priority technologies:
- Advanced manufacturing for space applications, aiming at manufacturing new (multi-)functional, lightweight or durable composite materials, by a combined approach of instrumented and robotized processes, adequate numerical modelling and testing.
- Thin Film technologies. Based on a large panel of industry-scalable deposition technologies, MRT develops thin film technologies for a wide range of surface functionalities.
- Technologies for energy, targeting more powerful, lightweight and safer energy storage, generators and innovative energy harvestors.
- Autonomous Sensors. MRT develops miniaturized temperature, mechanical & chemical sensors based on innovative sensing technologies and printing technologies.
- Scientific Instrumentation for space, focusing on miniaturized instruments and sensors platforms, for space exploration, autonomous in-space manufacturing and in-habitat monitoring.
TECHNICAL MEANS
Up-scalable processing technologies
- (bio-based) Raw materials refining and modification
- Synthesis of nano-structures, nano-particles and organic chemistry
- Powder engineering
- Thin-film processing, engineering and devices
- Polymer Processing
- Composite manufacturing
Advanced characterisation & Functional measurements
- Molecular analysis
- Elemental and isotopic analyses
- Structure, morphology and topography
- Non-destructive Inspection
- Mechanical testing
- Accelerated ageing
- Thermal analysis
- Characterization of optical & electrical properties
Numerical simulation
- Commercial codes (finite element, molecular dynamics, crystal plasticity)
- In-house codes (finite element, composite, boundary element method, e-Xtended finite element, XEFG)
MAIN CUSTOMERS
Airbus DS, Axon’ Cable, CNES, CSL, ESA, Euro-Composites, Gradel, I-space, KLEOS, Luxspace, Molecular Plasma Group SA, NASA, SouthWest Research Institute, Thales Alenia Space
MAJOR SPACE PROJECTS
- Super-black coating technology for complex opto-mechanical systems
- Miniaturized mass spectrometers for space exploration
- Miniaturised chemical sensors for the monitoring of molecular contamination on payload surfaces.
- Anti-static ETFE based nanocomposite
- Improved thermal conductivity of epoxy resin
- Carbon-based solutions for super-capacitors, Li-ion batteries and fuel cells
- Software tool enabling numerical analyses of composite space structures
- Fully integrated stress-temperature sensors for structural health monitoring
- Antibacterials-antifungal coatings for in-orbit habitat
- In-space pultrusion manufacturing
