CTMNC - Centre technique de matériaux naturels de construction
CTMNC - Centre technique de matériaux naturels de construction

Overview

The Technical Center for Natural Building Materials (CTMNC) has developed a reputation in Europe for promoting innovative techniques and for improving the quality of building materials for sixty years.

CTMNC has expertise in the characterisation, manufacturing and use of fired clay, unfired clay and natural stone as building materials and in their combination with other building materials.

CTMNC has 60 highly-skilled engineers and technicians spread over 3 geographical sites (Clamart, Limoges and Paris) that can rely on high-performance equipment :

a laboratory for testing materials, products and works
a laboratory dedicated to research and development on ceramic behaviour (characterisation, processes and surface covering)

Our vocation is to meet the needs of many players in the fields of materials, construction processes, building and roads. We also support professionals wishing to develop technological innovations.

Our interlocutors are industrialists, project managers, project owners… CTMNC has a large panel of equipment :

Chemical Analysis: Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Spectrometer, Ionic Chromatograph, UV-Visible Spectrophotometer,  Fourier Transform Infrared  (FT-IR) Spectrophotometer, XR-Diffractometer ;
Physical Characterisation : Particle Size Distribution (by Sieve and Sedigraph), Mercury Porosimeter, Optical Microscope,  Bigot Curve Measurement ;
Thermal Analysis : Themogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Dilatometer, Calorimeter ;
Clay Studies: Laboratory Installations for Grinding, Extruding, Drying, Firing; High Pressure Extrusion Machine, Drying Test Rigs, Controlled Industrial Driers and Ovens ;
Tests on Products: Freeze/Thaw Units, Tile Flexural Strength Test Machine,  Brick Compressive Strength Test Machine, Impermeability and Absorption Measurement Facilities, Chimney Thermal Testing Rig, High Temperature Mechanical Testing Press ;
Tests on Works: Walls Compressive Test Machine (2000…. Research and development to improve the building materials and their manufacturing processes : optimisation of the clay bricks through simulation (thermal, acoustic, mechanical) ; development of unfired clay bricks ; development of functionalised covering ; improve the manufacturing processes and the quality of the building materials.

Technical expertise on products and buildings : raw materials characterisation, Masonry and roofing testing, Product testing (COFRAC NF EN 17025), support and recommendation on building material pathologies, evolution of building systems

Support for product and environmental quality certification procedures :  Audit of the NF label, Product certification (COFRAC NF EN 45011), Life cycle assessment, Environmental and Health declaration sheets, support on the waste management

Support to access the market : certification, guideline, BIM

Evaluation of the performance of building materials and building systems. Mechanical behaviour, Fire Safety ; Environment ;…. Yes. service.