Laboratories

The Center for Research and Advanced Characterization of Materials (CePeCAM) develops three types of activities:

1) Research projects in the areas of materials engineering, chemical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, and related fields of PUC-Rio faculty.

2) Sponsored and on-demand research projects

3) Consulting and Materials Characterization Services

Below is a complete list of the characterization techniques available at CePeCAM:

  • X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses under ambient and, especially, non-ambient conditions.
  • Chemical analyses by X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
  • Dilatometry
  • Thermal analyses (TGA, DTA, DSC) coupled to Mass Spectrometry
  • Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
  • Optical Microscopy (OM)
  • High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
  • Local chemical analysis by Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy
  • UV-Vis, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS)
  • Gas chromatography (GC)
  • Mechanical Properties (hardness, bending, tensile strength)
  • Metallographic Preparation
  • Measurement of specific surface area and porosity by N2 adsorption
  • Systems for measuring the degradation of liquid and gaseous pollutants.
  • Green H2 generation system, including micro-GS
  • CO2 adsorption system, including micro-GS
  • Complete infrastructure for the synthesis of nanomaterials using low and high temperature chemical routes and conventional sintering.

Location:

Padre Laércio Dias de Moura SJ Building, 1st floor

Contact:

cepecam@puc-rio.br

Partnerships:

  • Petrobras
  • U.S. Army
  • Senai
  • Halliburton
  • CTDut
  • Carioca Catalyst Factory
  • Oceanus
  • stratum
  • White Martins
  • GM Technical Services and Surveying
  • Equinor
  • Several national and international universities (Canada, Spain, Czech Republic, Serbia, Portugal, Italy, UAE, Argentina, Colombia and Ecuador)

Website address

https://www.linkedin.com/company/cepecam/about/?viewAsMember=true

Other relevant information.

https://www.instagram.com/cepecam.puc_rio?utm_source=qr&igsh=ZWgzeWNhZjFzdmQ5

Coordination: Prof. Bojan Marinkovic

Deputy Coordinator: Professor Jorge Avendaño

The laboratory aims to develop and characterize polymer matrix composite materials, as well as characterize engineering polymers, with a primary focus on evaluating the degradation of materials as a function of the usage environment.

Location: Cardinal Leme Building, room 15, mezzanine ITUC and room 04, basement DEQM
Partnerships: Petrobras, Equinor, State University of Rio de Janeiro (Uerj), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).
Coordination: Prof. José Roberto Moraes d'Almeida (dalmeida@puc-rio.br)

The Ultra High Cycle Fatigue Laboratory, LABFADAC, is a unique center of excellence in all of Latin America, dedicated to cutting-edge research and development in Materials Engineering, focusing on the fatigue life of metallic alloys subjected to long or ultra-long (107 - 1012 cycles) cyclic loading regimes.

Location: Mezzanine of the Cardinal Leme building

Partnerships

  • LABFADAC meets the demands for long-duration fatigue testing from various sectors of national industry, such as steel product manufacturers (Vallourec Soluções Tubulares and Gerdau), automotive (Eaton), and civil construction (Votorantim), as well as the energy sector (Eneva, Furnas, Tropicália, and Petrobras). On the academic side, LABFADAC collaborates on research with the University of Brasília, University of São Paulo, Federal University of Santa Catarina, SENAI Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Systems and Laser Processing, TU Dortmund (Germany), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) / University of Lisbon, University of Porto, Institute of Science and Innovation in Engineering (INEGI) / Porto, Shizuoka University (Japan), and Toyota Technological Institute (Japan).

Site:  https://www.labfadac.deqm.puc-rio.br/

The mission of LABFADAC is to contribute significantly to advancements in the knowledge of the integrity, durability, and reliability of materials used in the manufacture of mechanical, structural, and biomedical components, processed by conventional routes or additive manufacturing. The laboratory conducts cutting-edge research to establish the fatigue life of materials subjected to long or ultra-long (10⁻¹² cycles) cyclic loading regimes. Equipped with Shimadzu ultrasonic technology equipment, a pioneer in Latin America, LABFADAC performs ultra-high cycle fatigue tests on metallic alloys. Furthermore, innovations in testing methodologies also allow for the testing of polymeric and composite materials. The use of ultrasonic technology considerably reduces testing time; tests up to 10¹ loading cycles take 6 days, while they would take 3 years if performed using conventional frequency. LABFADAC addresses a range of needs, from long-duration fatigue testing for various sectors of national industry (steel, automotive, construction, and energy) to characterizing the fatigue life of materials in undergraduate research projects, final course papers, master's dissertations, and doctoral theses.

CoordinationProfessor Marcos Venícius S. Pereira

The Laboratory for the Synthesis of Advanced Nanomaterials (LSNANO) is part of the NAPAM Group (Advanced Nanomaterials for Environmental Processes).

Developed activities: Synthesis of functionalized nanocellulose and nanochitosan; Synthesis of nanomaterials and nanohybrids containing carbonaceous phases using bio-based materials (cellulose or chitosan) as a reactive support; Synthesis of graphene and other carbonaceous materials from biomass; Thermodynamic modeling of inorganic chemical processes.

Location: Room L 513, Cardinal Leme Building.

Partnerships: Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry (UERJ), Department of Chemistry (UFOP), Embrapa Soils, COPPE (UFRJ), Department of Mechanical Engineering (UERJ).

Website address (if available):

Other relevant information:

Coordination: Professor Rogério Navarro Correra da Siqueira, Professor Anupama Ghosh, Professor Leandro Rocha. Technician: Henrique Meira da Silva.

The Modeling, Automation, and Control Laboratory (LaMAC) arose from the need to support undergraduate and graduate studies in chemical engineering at PUC-Rio. LaMAC has a classroom dedicated to assisting in the implementation of simulation tools, theoretical and experimental control, due to the importance of standardizing processes and products and automating information. The laboratory's activities aim to develop cutting-edge research in mathematical modeling, advanced control, optimization, application of Industry 4.0 concepts, and applied artificial intelligence. The tools available for such developments are commercial simulators, with the implementation of mathematical models in MATLAB software and in Fortran and Python languages. Additionally, it works with the application of artificial intelligence techniques, experimental design, and instrumentation for process automation.

LaMAC offers courses in Python programming and commercial software, as well as the development of artificial intelligence models for experimental process control (ensuring cost savings and safety in industrial plants) and fault identification, aimed at the academic and business communities.

Location: Cardinal Leme Building, Physics Basement
Partnerships: State University of Campinas (Unicamp).
Coordination: Prof. Brunno Ferreira dos Santos (bsantos@puc-rio.br)

The Materials Processing and Application Laboratory (LPMAT) is part of the NAPAM group (Advanced Nanomaterials for Environmental Processes).

Activities:
Adsorption of metals using nanocellulose and nanochitosan as adsorbents; Synthesis of oxide nanoparticles via aerosol route; Hydrothermal synthesis of biomass; Development of research on high-temperature reactions, with emphasis on extractive metallurgy; Synthesis of nanostructured materials; Reuse of solid waste and thermoconversion of biomass for the sustainable production of biofuels and chemicals.

Location: Basement of the DEQM building, Cardeal Leme Building.

Partnerships: Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry (UERJ), Department of Chemistry (UFOP), Embrapa Soils, COPPE (UFRJ), Department of Mechanical Engineering (UERJ).

Other relevant information: Coordination: Prof. Rogério Navarro Correra da Siqueira, Prof. Anupama Ghosh and Prof. Francisco Moura. Technician: Henrique Meira da Silva.

Coordination: Professor Rogério Navarro Correra da Siqueira, Professor Anupama Ghosh, and Professor Francisco Moura. Technician: Henrique Meira da Silva.

LITAq focuses on the development of sustainable aqueous technologies, including environmental remediation and flotation processes. Specializing in interfacial phenomena and rheology, the laboratory works on developing solutions based on surface chemistry, nanofluids, and biomaterials, exploring the potential of these areas for environmental and energy applications. Through strategic partnerships, LITAq integrates expertise in microfluidics, advanced characterization, and the development of innovative solutions in interfacial systems, geared towards the energy transition.

Location: Cardinal Leme Building, 5th floor

Partnerships:
LMMP (DEM, PUC-Rio)
F1RST (UIS, Colombia)
FIRP (ULA, Venezuela)
BiCMat, Biobased Colloids and Materials (UBC, Canada)

Coordination: Prof. Jorge Antonio Avendano Benavides

Occupation area:
The Metallography and Heat Treatment Laboratory (LMTT) conducts research and provides services in microstructural characterization and heat treatments. The laboratory has equipment that allows the study of metallic alloys, characterizing them in terms of their microstructure, microhardness, and grain size.
Relevance/Impacts:
Microstructural characterization is an essential methodology for understanding the mechanical properties of metallic alloys. It is through the manipulation/understanding of the microstructure that alloys can be modified to achieve the desired properties.
In addition to researching new alloys, the laboratory provides characterization services to various Brazilian industries, particularly the metal-mechanical sector.

Location: Cardinal Leme Building, 5th floor

Coordination: Prof. Bojan Marinkovic

LMTT Equipment

1. 350W Ultrasonic Sonicator, Ecosonics brand
2. Chapel
3. Tenupol-5, Struers brand
4. Magnetic stirrer with heater, IKA brand
5. Analytical Balance, brand GEHAKA, model GB400
6. BUELHER semi-automatic polisher, Vector model, 600 rpm
7. Polishing/sanding machine, Arotec brand, Aropol W model.
8. Vacuum pump, Struers brand
9. Precision cutter, with diamond cutting disc, Strues brand, 400 rpm
10. Sample embedding machine, brand BUEHLER, model SimpleMET
11. Belt sander, 152 mm capacity
12. Grinder, Makita brand, model GV801
13. Muffle furnace, Temperature up to 900 °C
14. Muffle furnace, Temperature up to 1000 °C
15. Tubular oven, Temperature up to 1200 °C, Maitec brand
16. Tubular vacuum oven, temperature up to 1600 °C, Maitec brand.
17. Drying oven, Temperature up to 250 °C, SolidSteel brand
18. Drying oven, Temperature up to 300 °C, Solab brand
19. Ball Milling 8000M, high energy, SPEX SAMPLE PREP brand
20. Vickers microhardness tester, model HMV 2000, brand Shimadzu
21. Vickers/Knoop microhardness meter, model HMV-2T, Shimadzu brand
22. Digimess brand Digital Portable Shore D Durometer
23. Optical microscope model AX10 and CCD model AxioCam ICc1, brand Zeiss,
24. Zeiss Axio Plan 2 optical microscope
25. Discovery V8 stereoscopic microscope, Zeiss brand.