New equipment at the CMQ

The Quebec Metallurgy Centre (CMQ) recently received a PSO V4 grant in partnership with the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, INRS, and Innofibre to acquire new corrosion and energy equipment. This will enhance its research infrastructure capabilities to serve industry. This new equipment will help companies address challenges related to infrastructure sustainability, corrosion, material protection, and performance evaluation in harsh environments. It also allows the CMQ to further develop its research infrastructure dedicated to sustainability, the energy transition, and industrial decarbonization.

In parallel, the CMQ also received a grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), in partnership with Innofibre, to develop new research infrastructure dedicated to industrial decarbonization, advanced energy technologies, and recycling. These investments will allow the CMQ to better meet the needs of Quebec and Canadian industries in the areas of materials development, advanced characterization, recycling, sustainability and energy transition.

For the aluminium industry, a strategic sector for Quebec, these new infrastructures will be a significant asset in supporting its growth, improving the sustainability of its products, and facilitating its energy transition through:
• The development of recycling and recovery solutions for aluminium scrap;
• The improvement of the durability and corrosion resistance of alloys;
• The development of advanced alloys for energy and transportation applications;
• The integration of decarbonization processes for thermal and metallurgical operations;
• The integration of hydrogen technologies and new energy approaches into industrial processes;
• The development of coatings and surface treatments to improve the performance and lifespan of components.

The new infrastructure will also support projects in:
• Development of materials for hydrogen production and storage;
• Development of materials for CO₂ capture and conversion;
• Development of materials for batteries and energy storage;
• Decarbonization of industrial processes;
• Surface engineering and materials protection.

These projects will strengthen the CMQ’s capacity to support industrial innovation and the development of sustainable technological solutions for tomorrow’s energy and environmental challenges.

Here is the list of equipment coming to the CMQ:

• Anodizing line for surface treatment and functionalization of aluminum alloys and other metals.
• Plating line for surface development and engineering of aluminum alloys and other metals.
• MP-AES system for liquid-phase chemical analysis and compositional characterization of aluminum alloys and other metals.
• Micro-ohmmeter for measuring very low electrical contact resistances in aluminum and other metal alloy assemblies.
• Multichannel potentiostat for studying electrochemical mechanisms, corrosion, and degradation of metal alloys.
• SECM-SKP electrochemical microscope for characterizing surface properties, studying localized corrosion, and electrochemical phenomena on aluminum and other metals.
• X-ray diffractometer (XRD) for phase identification, structural characterization, and analysis of developed materials and alloys.
• Redox battery testing station for the development and evaluation of functional materials, advanced alloys, and catalysts based on aluminum and other metals.
• PEM electrolyzer and system testing station for the development and evaluation of metallic components for hydrogen-related technologies.

For more details and for people interested in this equipment, you can contact Ayoub Tanji.