Physical Chemistry of Building Materials
Main research areas
The research activities in the “Chair for Physical Chemistry of Construction Materials” have three main areas of focus:
The first part deals with understanding how interfaces can be manipulated to modify engineering properties as for example workability (rheology), strength, adhesion, sorptivity or corrosion. The overriding objective is to increase the sustainability of construction materials.
Important issues deal with “rheology modifiers” (superplasticizers and viscosity modifying agents). Consequently, there is an important interaction with the second area: processing (~25%). There, the main focus is the rheology of the cementitious materials, in which “rheology modifiers” play a key role.
The materials mainly investigated are mineral construction materials, in particular concrete, although gypsum, brick and stone can also be included.
The materials science of conservation and repair includes a fair portion of work on questions related to cultural heritage. This subject will however be approached from a similar angle as the other topics mentioned above. Various length scales will be examined, the ultimate target being to understand how to manipulate the smaller length scales (molecular, nano, micro) in order to control macroscopic properties.
References
Félix, C. (1988): “Comportement des grès en construction sur le plateau suisse (Performance of Sandstones in Construction on the Swiss Plateau)”. In LCP Publications 1975-1995, Montreux, R. Pancella Ed., EPFL, 833-841
Félix, C. (1994): “Déformation des grès consecutive à leur consolidation avec un silicate d’ethyle”, In 7th Int. Congress of the association of engineering geology, Lisboa, Ed. R. Oliveria, L.F. Rodrigues, A.G. Coehlo and A.P. Cunha,. Rohterdam: A.A. Balkema, 3543-50Flatt R.J. Schober I., Raphael E., Plassard C., and Lesniewska E. “Conformation of Adsorbed Comb Copolymer Dispersants”, Langmuir, 2009, 25 (2), 845-855.
Giraudeau C., d'Espinose de Lacaillerie J.-B., Souguir Z., Nonat A., Flatt R.J. “Surface and intercalation chemistry in cementitious materials and its implications in rheology”, J. Am. Ceram Soc. 92 [11] (2009) 2471-2488.
Jimenez-Gonzalez I. Efecto de los ciclos de humedad-sequedad en el deterioro de rocas ornamentales que contienen minerales de la arcilla (Effect of wetting and drying cycles on the deterioration of clay-bearing stones), PhD University of Granada, 2008.
Juilland P., Gallucci E., Flatt R.J. and Scrivener K.S., “Dissolution theory applied to the induction period in alite hydration”, Cem. Concr. Res. 40 (2010) 831-844.
Plank J., Dai Z., and Andres P. R., ‘‘Preparation and Characterization of New Ca–Al–Polycarboxylate Layered Double Hydroxides,’’ Mater. Lett., 60 [29–30] (2006) 3614–7.
Plank J., Keller H., Andres P. R., and Dai Z. M., ‘‘Novel Organo-Mineral Phases Obtained by Intercalation of Maleic Anhydride–Allyl Ether Copolymers Into Layered Calcium Aluminum Hydrates,’’ Inorg. Chim. Acta, 359 [15] (2006) 4901–8.
Scherer G.W., Flatt R.J. and Wheeler G.W. “Materials science research for the conservation of sculpture and monuments” Mat. Res. Bull., 26 [1] (2001) 44-50.