FOCUS Development of elium® tankmanufacturing procedures: KEY PARTNERSHIPS To optimize the technology for manufacturing Elium resin-based composite hydrogen® tanks, Arkema draws on the expertise of world-renowned universities in the field of composites. Two specialists give their stories. “UV activation for dramatically improved productivity.” Jacques Lalevée “Our expertise at the Mulhouse Materials Science InstituteArkema is a major international name in our area of relates to the development of new photopolymerizableresearch, and that is why we have been collaborating resins. In the course of manufacturing composite hy-closely and actively with them for many years in Elium® drogen tanks, when wrapping carbon fibers and Elium®and other new photosensitive resins. This collaboration resin around the liner, polymerization of the resin is acti-extends from an advisory role to active participation, as vated under ultraviolet light, thanks to its photosensitivefar as in-lab theses on the issues facing the company. properties. The work we do directly with Arkema has led to the filing of a number of patent applications to make the most of This photopolymerization reaction is more advantageousthese innovations.” ■ than conventional polymerization procedures because it delivers a material with excellent end qualities in a shorter time—a few seconds’ exposure—and under gentle polymerization conditions, which means at roomPROFESSOR JACQUES LALEVÉE, University temperature and with no emissions of volatile organicprofessor and head of the “Radical and Materials compounds . This helps Arkema to improve the rateChemistry” team at the Mulhouse Materials Science Institute. at which hydrogen tanks are produced by using thisUniversité de Haute-Alsace, Mulhouse, France photoactivation. RESEARCH AREA: photopolymerization 24