COUPLES - Research project

 

This project involved implementing an optical technique (surface plasmon mode) for characterizing passivation films (oxide type), capable of supplementing information related to the physical properties of these films in parallel with physicochemical information obtained from electrochemical measurements.Surface plasmon modes are defined by surface waves propagating at the interface of a metallic and dielectric layer. The propagation constants of these plasmon modes are directly linked to the properties of this interface, making them a reference technique for detecting variations in indices, permittivity/thicknesses at the interface. Coupled with complementary characterization techniques (electrochemistry), this technique has provided additional data to enhance understanding of these passive layers, which serve as the primary barrier for protecting materials such as stainless steels, superalloys, Titanium or aluminum alloys, from environmental factors.