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Bernard Nysten
Full Professor @ UCLouvain

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Welcome on my website

Full Professor at the Université catolique de Louvain (UCLouvain), I am member of the Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences (IMCN) where I conduct research in the field of nanosciences and nanotechnologies, mainly focussed on the development and the application of scanning probe mic

By Admin_bnysten, 30 March, 2025

Nanoindentation analysis of transcrystalline layers in model carbon fiber-reinforced PEEK composite

Nanoindentation (NI) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanoindentation, coupled with polarized light microscopy (PLM), were used to determine the nano-/micromechanical behavior of the amorphous regions and individual crystalline structures, both spherulites and transcrystalline (TC) layers, in PEEK samples containing few carbon fibers. To this aim, thin model samples with a controlled thickness were manufactured to allow both microstructure characterization in transmission mode and indentation tests without substrate effects.

By Admin_bnysten, 1 April, 2024
Graphical abstract

Influence of physical ageing and fibre proximity on the local mechanical response of the Elium® thermoplastic composite matrix

The prediction of the micromechanical response of fibre-reinforced polymer composites with numerical models relies on the assumption that the matrix behaves like a bulk sample of the same polymer. Yet, the presence of fibres likely impacts the thermochemical history and mechanical behaviour of the matrix (e.g. formation of an interphase during processing). In this work, micromechanical analysis of a thermoplastic polymer matrix is performed on glass fibre-reinforced composite samples manufactured by vacuum infusion and in-situ polymerisation.

By Admin_bnysten, 7 September, 2023
Deflection curves

Accurate determination of stiffness and strength of graphene via AFM-based membrane deflection

The Young's modulus and fracture strength of single and bilayer graphene (BLGr) grown by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) were determined using atomic force microscopy-based membrane deflection experiments. The uncertainty resulting from instrument calibration and the errors due to the experimental conditions like tip wear, loading position, and sample preparation were investigated to estimate the accuracy of the method. The theoretical estimation of the uncertainty on the Young's modulus linked to the calibration is around 16%.

By Admin_bnysten, 6 June, 2023
Nanoscale2023

Quantifying the local mechanical properties of twisted double bilayer graphene

Nanomechanical measurements of minimally twisted van der Waals materials remained elusive despite their fundamental importance for device realisation. Here, we use Ultrasonic Force Microscopy (UFM) to locally quantify the variation of out-of-plane Young's modulus in minimally twisted double bilayer graphene (TDBG). We reveal a softening of the Young's modulus by 7% and 17% along single and double domain walls, respectively. Our experimental results are confirmed by force-field relaxation models.

By Admin_bnysten, 9 February, 2023
DIC

Nanoscale digital image correlation at elementary fibre/matrix level in polymer–based composites

Multiscale mechanical modelling aims at predicting the failure of composites from the fibre/matrix level up to the component scale. Existing frameworks are limited by the lack of reliable experimental data and by an incomplete understanding of the submicron deformation and failure mechanisms. A novel digital image correlation (DIC) method has been developed for the characterisation of the nanoscale mechanical response in composites, based on latest advances in surface patterning.

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