Research Institute of Building Materials, research, development, production, realization and consultancy in sphere of building materials

Binding systems

Research and development of mortars

Basic and applied research in the branch of silicate technology
Design of optimal technologies in the branch of mortars and burnt products
Experimental and consultancy activity in the field of Portland clinker and cement quality
Assessment and conveniency testing of natural and secondary raw materials for clinker burning, cement production and other binding materials production
Conveniency assessment of limestone for lime burning and dolomites for half-burnt dolomite (PVD) burning
Conveniency assessment of lime for lime hydrate production, possibilities of model tests
Conveniency assessment of dolomites for industrial use
Conveniency verification of raw materials for 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
Measurement of hydration temperatures course of hydraulic binders by means of adiabatic and semi-adiabatic calorimeter
Determination of cement hydration heat by dissolving method according to Czech standard CSN EN 196-8 and by means of differential calorimeter
Supplying of standards for calibration of Blaine apparatus used for specific surface determination

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 1600 °C and in amount up to 1 kg
Flameproof finish of materials in model rotary kiln up to 1600 °C in amount 2 kg/h

Physical chemistry

X-ray diffractometric methods
- Qualitative phase analysis (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 and clinker by high temperature microphotometry
Thermic methods
- Differential thermal analyses up to 1500 °C
- High temperature dilatometry up to 1500 °C
- Determination of reactivity and burnability of cement raw meal by kinetic method
Other methods
- Preparation of pure clinker minerals and their standards for X-ray diffraction instruments
- 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
- Electrokinetic potential (zeta potential) determination by suspension and particle size determination in range 2 nm – 3 µm
- Macrophotography – possibility of photographic documentation up to scale 2:1 (object size on sensor:real size) in laboratory and in ground

Contacts

Head of section Binding systems
Ing. Radovan Nečas
phone: +420 543 529 261
e-mail: necas@vustah.cz

Head of Mortars
Mgr. Martin Boháč
phone: +420 543 529 326
e-mail: bohac@vustah.cz

Head of Physical chemistry
Assistant of Head
Ing. Lenka Schwarzerová
phone: +420 543 529 328
e-mail: schwarzerova@vustah.cz