Projects for the CEA, electrolytic processes: The latest news from CITRA.
In the spotlight
ENSIL-ENSCI students visit CITRA
As part of their training, students from two ENSIL-ENSCI classes had the opportunity to go behind the scenes of R&D at CITRA during two-day visits organized on Tuesday, January 14, and Thursday, January 23, 2025.
🔍 A dive into the heart of innovation.
The program included a tour of the CRTS, our technical building, and discussions with our teams about the various surface treatment and coating technologies. These discussions provided a concrete illustration of the many processes implemented at our center.
🎯 Raising awareness of the industrial challenges of tomorrow.
The aim of these visits was to raise awareness among these future engineers of the technological challenges facing the sector and to make them aware of the key role that surface treatment plays in many industrial fields.
🌟 A moment of sharing and transmission.
These immersions were an opportunity for students to observe closely how research and innovation work together in a professional environment. For CITRA, it is a real pleasure to be able to support the new generation of engineers by sharing our expertise and our passion for applied sciences.
CITRA, committed to training future professionals.
At CITRA, knowledge transfer is an integral part of our mission. That is why several of our employees are actively involved in teaching students in Limoges, particularly at the Institut Universitaire de Technologie (IUT) and the ENSIL-ENSCI engineering school.
🎓 Experts at the service of education
With their expertise in fields such as materials, wet processes, thermal spraying, PVD, and characterization, our instructors bring concrete and technical insight to the courses they teach.
By sharing their experience in the field, they give students access to learning that is directly linked to the realities of the professional world. This enriching approach strengthens the links between applied research and training.
💡 A commitment to the future
This investment by the CITRA teams demonstrates our desire to actively participate in skills development in key industrial sectors. Training the engineers and technicians of tomorrow also means preparing for the innovations of tomorrow.
📢 A look back at a PVD training course at CRTS!
On March 13 and 14, CITRA was pleased to host a new training session dedicated to physical vapor deposition (PVD), in partnership with A3TS.
🧠 An educational approach combining theory and practice
The first day, led by Frédéric Meunier, allowed participants to familiarize themselves with the theoretical principles of the process. The next day was devoted to practical training, supervised by CITRA experts.
The PVD training course organized by A3TS took place on March 13 and 14. After a first day of theory led by Frederic Meunier, participants were able to move on to practical work alongside CITRA experts.
🔬 On the agenda for this technical day:
✔ Preparation and assembly of parts: identification of the key steps in the process.
✔ PVD coating: implementation of best practices.
✔ Characterization of coatings: thickness measurements (profilometry, calotest) and adhesion measurements (scratch test, Mercedes test).
✔ Introduction to advanced technologies: preparation and presentation of SEM, EDS, and SDL analyses with our characterization team.
Our colleagues Guillaume Desbordes, Thomas Crouzet, Julien Fougeyrollas, and Jonathan Emo shared their expertise!
Are you looking for high-purity coatings? Do you have questions about your materials and parts? Contact our teams to coat and characterize your parts:
https://www.citra-limousin.com/contact/
A look back at Connect-Industrie Day on March 18, 2025.
On March 18, our vacuum deposition project manager, Guillaume Desbordes, took part in a day dedicated to innovations and materials in cutting-edge sectors: Aeronautics, Space, and Defense. This event, organized by the Pôle Européen de la Céramique and AEROCENTRE in Bourges, brought together experts to discuss current technological challenges.
🎤 A conference on surface coating processes
Guillaume Desbordes led a conference on optimizing surface coating processes, specifically for demanding sectors. This topic is at the heart of current technical concerns, providing a better understanding of the impact of coatings on the performance of materials in extreme conditions.
🔬 Fruitful discussions on the materials of tomorrow
The day also provided an opportunity for conferences, meetings, and experience sharing on a variety of topics, ranging from metallic materials to ceramics and composites, which are essential in these high value-added industries.
💡 Technical challenges to be addressed?
Are you facing technical challenges in these sectors? Our teams are at your disposal to discuss and find solutions tailored to your needs.
📩 Contact us here 👉: Contact CITRA
ANNOUNCEMENT – CITRA will be participating in the 9th edition of the Ceramic Network Exhibition, from July 1 to 3, 2025
The Ceramic Network Exhibition, organized by the European Ceramic Cluster, returns to Limoges for its 9th edition, a key event for players in the field of surface treatment and coating, as well as advanced materials.
We are delighted to be participating and to discuss the technical challenges and latest innovations in our sector with you. We hope to see many of you at this unmissable event.
💡 On the agenda: industrial trends, new technologies, innovative materials and manufacturing processes.
📅 Date: July 1-3, 2025
📍 Location: Beaublanc, Limoges
🔍 Would you like to meet with us and discuss your technological challenges? Contact us here 👉 Click here
For more information, visit the event website: Ceramic Network
Focus on electrolytic processes
🔬 Electrolytic processes in surface treatment
Electrolytic processes, one of the wet surface treatment methods, play a key role in improving the properties of metallic materials. They involve depositing micrometric layers on metal surfaces, offering advantages such as corrosion resistance, hardness, decorative appearance, and conductivity.
This process is based on an oxidation-reduction reaction induced by an electric current in a bath containing metal salts.
How it works
The electrolytic process is based on an oxidation-reduction reaction induced by an electric current in a bath containing metal salts. A cathode is immersed in this bath, and under the effect of the current, the metal ions move towards the surface of the part. There, they are reduced and deposited in the form of solid metal. This operation is carried out with successive baths and carefully controlled exposure times, often assisted by automated systems to ensure repeatability.
⚙️ Industrial applications
Electrolytic processes are used in various industrial sectors for:
Metal coatings: Improving the corrosion resistance, electrical resistance, wear resistance, and aesthetics of metal parts.
Surface treatments: Modifying the surface properties of materials for optimized performance.
Manufacturing electronic components: Depositing conductive layers on substrates.
These applications are essential in industries such as automotive, aerospace, luxury goods, telecommunications, energy, and medical.
📜 History of electrolytic processes
Electrolysis, the fundamental principle behind these processes, was discovered in the early 19th century. Since then, these processes have been refined and diversified, becoming central to many industrial innovations and now offering more environmentally friendly and efficient solutions for surface treatment.
Electrolytic processes at CITRA:
The main electrolytic processes used at CITRA are:
- Surface preparation and activation (degreasing).
- Colored anodizing of titanium, aluminum, and magnesium, as well as anodizing formulations (OAS, OAST, etc.).
- Zinc plating: zinc deposition commonly applied to steel to protect it from corrosion. The thickness and effectiveness of the coating vary according to several parameters (current density, composition, pH, etc.).
- Copper plating: used as an undercoat and deposited on various alloys to improve the adhesion of subsequent coatings and prevent galvanic coupling. It also helps to reduce surface irregularities and add shine for aesthetic purposes.
- Nickel plating: used for its decorative and anti-corrosive properties, it is often applied in undercoats or in several layers to slow down corrosion and maintain a shiny appearance. It is used in jewelry, the restoration of worn parts, the medical industry, and the manufacture of microprocessors.
- Trivalent chromium plating: available in decorative versions of a few microns (shine) or hard versions of up to several tens of microns (wear resistance and low friction). Hard chrome plating is thicker and used in industrial applications.
- Precious metal deposits (cyanide-free): used for their unalterable properties, electrical conductivity, and aesthetic appeal.
- Demetallization, stripping.
📞
Contact us
To learn more about the applications and advantages of electrolytic processes, please feel free to contact our team of specialists in this field: Contact CITRA.
Example of services
🔬 Innovation & expertise: Coatings for the CEA (DES/IRESNE/DTN/STCP/LISM team)
CITRA supports researchers with tailor-made technical solutions. Recently, the PVD/PECVD team, composed of Guillaume Desbordes and Thomas Crouzet, worked on a coating project for the CEA to optimize and improve the assembly of instruments by brazing for reactor applications.
What services were provided? Copper (Cu) or gold-indium (Au-In) is deposited evenly and in a controlled thickness on stainless steel parts and lithium niobate (LiNbO₃) wafers to ensure optimal performance.
💡 A partnership based on trust. For nearly 10 years, the CEA has trusted our engineering expertise to meet its technological challenges. We thank them for this collaboration!
📩 To learn more about our technologies, visit our website or contact us via this link 👉 https://www.citra-limousin.com/contact/
To join CITRA, click here
Don’t miss out on the next newsletter and our latest news—subscribe to our LinkedIn page!