Binder Systems

Mortars

  • Basic and applied research in the field of silicate technologies
  • Design of optimal technologies in the field of mortars and burnt products
  • Research and consultancy activities in the field of Portland clinker and cement quality
  • Assessment and suitability testing of natural and secondary raw materials for clinker burning, cement production and other binding materials production, calculations of raw material meal composition
  • Suitability assessment of limestone for lime burning and dolomites for half-burnt dolomite burning
  • Suitability assessment of lime for lime hydrate production, possibilities of model tests
  • Preparation and testing of autoclaved materials, prepared on basis of calcium hydro-silicates
  • Suitability assessment of dolomites for industrial use
  • Suitability verification of raw materials for the production of lightweight clay artificial aggregate and expanded perlite

Testing laboratory of mortars

  • Verification and evaluation of the binding material quality according to standards CSN, EN and DIN and also according to customer´s methodology
  • Determination of cement hydration heat by dissolving method according to Czech standard CSN EN 196-8
  • Supplying of standards for calibration of Blaine apparatus used for specific surface determination
  • Measurement of hydration temperatures course of hydraulic binders by means of differential and semi-adiabatic calorimeter
  • Rheological properties testing of lime putty and other non-Newtonian fluids (Brookfield DV-E viscosimeter, Rheotest II. viscosimeter)
  • Emley’s plasticity determination of lime putty (ASTM C110-76)

Adjustment

  • Verification of physical-mechanical properties of raw materials from the point of adjustment process (determination of grindability according to Zeisel, VTI, abrasivity test etc.)
  • Crushing, milling and homogenization of specimens up to 100 kg
  • Sieve analyses on screening machine Alpine
  • Firing in laboratory kilns up to 1700 °C and in amount up to 3 kg
  • Flameproof finish of materials in model rotary kiln up to 1500 °C in amount 2 kg/h


Physical chemistry

X-ray diffractometric methods

Bruker D8 Advance diffractometer
  • Qualitative phase analysis of inorganic materials (including indentification of asbestos minerals)
  • Quantitative determination of crystalline and amorphous phases
  • High-temperature X-ray diffractometry (identification of phase transformations up to 1600°C)
  • Analysis of powder and solid samples

Optical methods

  • Determination of quantitative phase composition of clinkers and cements by optical microscopy
  • Slag glassiness determination, determination of slag and other admixtures content in cement
  • Petrographical analyses of raw materials by means of optical microscopy
  • Identification of alit and belit modifications in Portland cement clinker by high temperature microphotometry
  • Fluorescence microscopy techniques

Thermic methods

Simultaneous thermal analyzer Perseus STA F3 Netzsch
  • Simultaneous DTA/TG
  • Simultaneous DSC/TG
  • TG measurement
  • Analysis of outgoing gases using FT-IR
  • Maximal temperature ca. 1600 °C
  • Heating speed up to 50 °C/min
  • Measurement in controlled atmosphere (inert or oxidation)
  • Qualitative and quantitative determination of some phases
Simultaneous thermal analyzer Netzsch STA 429
  • Simultaneous DTA/TG
  • TG measurement
  • Maximal temperature ca. 1400 °C
  • Heating speed up to 100 °C/min
  • High-temperature dilatometry up to 1500 °C
  • Determination of reactivity and burnability of raw material meal using kinetic method

Rheometric methods

Hybrid rheometer HR-1 Discovery (TA Instruments)
  • Rheological properties determination of liquids, emulsions, dispersions, polymers, pastes, gels and also some solids
  • Specifications – torque 10 nN.m – 150 mN.m, high resolution 10 nrad, angular velocity up to 300 rad/sec, normal force up to 50 N
  • Measuring also with own geometries
  • Regimes – oscillation measurement, flow measurement, creep regime

Other methods

  • Porosity determination in range of 3,75 – 10000 nm by pressure mercury porosimetry
  • Determination of specific surface by BET adsorption method
  • Grading analysis of loose materials in range of 0,3 – 400 µm by means of laser grading analysis
  • Determination of particles stability in dispersal environment using measurement of zeta potential and nanoparticle analysis (in range 2 – 3000 nm)
  • Preparation of pure clinker phases (in kilograms)

 

Contact

Mgr. Martin Boháč, Ph.D.
mobile: +420 732 735 861
e-mail: bohac@vush.cz

Other related keywords

calorimetry, raw material composition, limestone, rheology, xonotlite, tobermorite, X-ray diffraction, rheometry