Materials Analysis and Testing

A fundamental basis for material development is the knowledge of the chemical and mineralogical composition of raw materials and final products. From this, conclusions can be drawn about ongoing reactions and resulting material formation processes. Analytical Methods Elemental Analyses X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX analysis, mapping) Laser-induced plasma spectroscopy (LIPS) Carbon/Sulfur analyzer (C/S analyzer) Particle Size/Shape Analyses Particle size distribution via: – Dry/wet sieving according to DIN 66165-1 and -2 – Sedigraph using in-house method (accredited) – Laser granulometer (Coulter) – Optical particle measurements (Camsizer) Mineral Phase/Structural Analyses Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) X-ray diffractometry (XRD) according to DIN EN 13925-2 (accredited) Determination of water-soluble salts Microscopy (scanning electron, digital, stereo microscopy) Thermal Analyses Loss on ignition based on DIN 51081 Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA according to DIN 51006) (accredited) Thermo-optical analysis (e.g., with heating microscope EM 301) Differential thermal analysis (DTA according to DIN 51007) (accredited) Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC according to DIN EN ISO 11357-1) Dynamic multi-simultaneous thermal analysis (DMSTA) Dilatometry (from low temperature up to 1440°C) Ultrasonic Transmission Method Determination of the propagation velocity of the compression wave (P-wave) Point tracking measurements, e.g., to determine damage or sedimentation gradients Determination of Hydration Kinetics Using ultrasonic transmission depending on hydration time of hardening systems, mortars, or concrete: Continuous determination of P-wave velocity (relative measurement of sound velocity vP) Continuous determination of P- and S-wave velocities with calculation of dynamic elastic properties (dynamic G- and K-moduli) Measurement of Natural Frequencies (Impulse Excitation Method) On specimens with defined geometry, with calculation of dynamic elastic properties (Edyn, Gdyn) Testing Methods Determination of Rheological Properties Viscosity using rotational viscometer Yield stress using rotational viscometer Pumpability using Sliper Consistency using: – Flow table according to DIN EN 1015-3 (Hägermann table) – Flow spread according to DIN EN 12350-5 – Slump flow according to DIN EN 12350-8 – Funnel test according to DIN EN 12350-9 – L-box test according to DIN EN 12350-10 – Blocking ring test according to DIN EN 12350-12 Determination of Strength Properties Compressive Strength According to: DIN 18555-3 DIN EN 772-1 (accredited) DIN EN 1354 DIN EN 12190 DIN EN 12390-3 DIN EN 12504-1 Flexural Strength (Four-point and three-point bending tests) According to: DIN 18555-3 DIN EN 772-6 (accredited) DIN EN 993-6 (accredited) DIN EN 12390-5 Flexural strength of unfired products (dry bending strength) according to DIN 51030 Post-crack flexural strength according to DAfStb guideline "Steel Fiber Concrete" (accredited) Tensile Strength Up to 250 kN tensile force depending on specimen geometry Bond and Adhesive Strength According to: DIN 18555-6 DIN EN 1015-12 (accredited) DIN EN 1542 (accredited) DIN EN 12618-2 DIN EN 13892-8 Surface Hardness (Clay Plates) According to DIN 18948 Abrasion Resistance DIN 18947 (clay plasters) DIN EN 14157 – Method B (Böhme) Crushing Strength According to: DIN EN 295-3 DIN EN 1916 DIN EN 1917 Elastic Modulus Determination Static modulus of elasticity Dynamic modulus of elasticity Determination of Chemical Properties Chemical resistance using: – In-house IAB method (media resistance test bench) – Acid test according to DIN 19573: Annex A (accredited) / Annex B – Acid test depending on application Sulfate resistance test, e.g., according to DIN 19573: Annex C Determination of potential pozzolanic activity – Chapelle test according to NF P 18-513 (quick test) Determination of water-soluble salts pH value in aqueous solutions Determination of Thermal and Building Physical Properties Thermal conductivity in building materials up to 2.0 W/(m*K): – According to DIN 52612-1 (accredited) – Thermal resistance according to DIN EN 12664, DIN EN 12667, DIN EN 12939 (accredited) Sound absorption/reflection using impedance tube according to DIN EN ISO 10534-2 (accredited) Airborne sound insulation of components in test rig according to DIN EN ISO 10140-2 (accredited) Coefficient of thermal expansion Heat of reaction development in inorganic building materials via calorimetry Generation of Bigot curves Water vapor diffusion resistance factor – DIN EN 1015-19 – DIN EN ISO 12572 Moisture content determination Water absorption according to DIN EN 993-1 or DIN EN ISO 10545-3 (boiling and vacuum method, immersion, water storage) Determination of water permeability coefficient Kf according to DIN 18130-1 Determination of Microstructural Properties Density measurements (real, bulk, apparent) – Bulk density, open and total porosity according to DIN EN 993-1 (accredited) – Bulk density of granular materials via GeoPyc – Real density using pycnometer according to DIN EN 993-2 A1; helium pycnometer (Accupyc) – Loose bulk density according to DIN EN 1097-3 Mercury intrusion porosimetry – determination of pore volume and pore size distribution Shrinkage behavior – Drying, firing, and total shrinkage of ceramic bodies via dilatometric measurements across full firing range – Shrinkage of mortar and concrete using shrinkage channels