The Materials in Interactions department (MINT) studies ceramic and composite materials with a focus on mastering manufacturing processes to optimize their structures and microstructures. Its activities cover three areas: material damage in aggressive environments, design and creative industries, and surface and interface chemistry, thereby addressing industrial and environmental challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions.
Head of Department
Jenny Faucheu
Email: faucheu@mines-stetienne.fr
Phone: +33 4 77 49 97 68
Areas of Expertise
Core Competencies
- Surface Chemistry
Functionalization and modification of surfaces for specific applications. - Durability of Metallic Materials
Study of stress corrosion cracking and hydrogen embrittlement. - Surface and Interface Science
Chemical and micromechanical characterization of surfaces. - Materials for Design
Analysis of the sensory and aesthetic properties of materials.
Fields of activity
- Oil and Chemical Industry
Corrosion prevention and improvement of facility durability. - Renewable Energy
Development of resistant materials for harsh environments. - Industrial Design
Integration of material properties into the design of innovative products. - Microelectronics
Interface control for the optimization of electronic devices.
Research Areas
Material damage in harsh environments
Study of the damage mechanisms of metallic materials in harsh environments, including stress corrosion cracking, hydrogen embrittlement, and corrosion fatigue. The approach, which is primarily experimental, aims to understand damage mechanisms by combining expertise in physical metallurgy, mechanics, and electrochemistry.
Materials, design, and creative industries
A multidisciplinary approach aimed at understanding how materials can be levers of perceived value in manufactured products, focusing on user experience and interaction with the human perceptual system.
Surface and interface chemistry
Development of experimental methodologies for the chemical and micromechanical characterization of surfaces and interfaces, as well as modeling their role in material processing methods.
Research unit
The department maintains a close relationship with the Georges Friedel Laboratory (LGF), a joint research unit of Mines Saint-Étienne and the CNRS. This partnership provides a solid scientific foundation, allowing the MINT department to draw on the LGF’s expertise in advanced materials, manufacturing processes, and surface engineering.
This collaboration promotes the transfer of fundamental knowledge from the LGF to concrete industrial applications, particularly in the energy, mobility, and environment sectors. In return, the MINT department’s industrial projects feed into the LGF’s research work, thereby strengthening the relevance of the studies conducted in the face of current technological challenges. This synergy between research and application positions the MINT department as a key player in industrial innovation.
Contact and Practical Information
- Head of Department
Jenny Faucheu - Email
faucheu@mines-stetienne.fr - Phone
+33 4 77 49 97 68
- Address
École des mines de Saint-Étienne
Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering
158, cours Fauriel,
42000 Saint-Étienne, France - Transportation
Bus: Line 6, stop “École des Mines”