Department
of Civil Engineering
Laboratory for Construction Chemistry
Construction chemistry as the basis for the development of sustainable building materials
The Construction Chemistry Laboratory provides the ideal setting for research, development, investigation and analysis of the chemical, mineralogical and physical properties of building materials, as well as their chemical reactions and compounds relating to general inorganic and organic chemistry in the field of civil engineering. The Construction Chemistry Laboratory supports teaching in the field of construction chemistry for civil engineers through lectures, practical sessions, seminars and coursework, as well as by supervising bachelor's degree and master's degree theses.
In education
Here, our students have the opportunity to gain hands-on, independent experience of building materials, following instructions, as part of internships in the construction chemistry laboratory. During the foundation and advanced stages of the degree programme, laboratory exercises are used to demonstrate key construction chemistry tests and to simulate damage mechanisms. For the modules ‘Renovation and Refurbishment’ (wBest), ‘Concrete Technology’ (wBeto) and ‘Environment and Building Materials Cycle’ (UBKL), as well as for ‘Maintenance’ (SIVB), the laboratories are available for seminar and project work and, of course, for practice-oriented final assignments.
In research
Numerous application-oriented research projects are carried out at the Construction Chemistry Laboratory and its branch in Freising. The main areas of research are recycled concrete, the durability and repair of reinforced concrete, CO₂-optimised binders and 3D printing of concrete.
Cooperation
There is, in some cases, close cooperation between the construction chemistry laboratory and construction firms, manufacturers of building materials and those involved in the planning process, and this is set to be further strengthened. We offer companies and trade associations support in organising specialist events. Furthermore, the laboratory works closely with the affiliated institute of Hochschule München, imabs.
Facilities
The Construction Chemistry Laboratory is equipped with testing machines and apparatus for the structural, physical and chemical-mineralogical analysis of the full range of building materials and the most common types of structural damage.
The following tests, amongst others, can be carried out in the laboratory:
- Investigation of chemically induced damage to buildings and building materials; corrosion of building materials
- Tests on the protection and repair of components made from mineral building materials
- The effects of construction chemicals
- Renovation of Existing Buildings / Building Maintenance
- Alternative binding agents
- Approval trials for novel concretes and binders
- Determination of the levels of harmful salts (chloride, sulphate, nitrate, etc.) and other harmful compounds in building materials, in particular concrete
In detail:
- Basic equipment for analytical investigations
- Digital light microscopy
- Ion chromatography
- Infrared spectroscopy
- XRD
- RFA (portable handheld device)
- Air jet screen, including cyclone separation
- N-BET
- Isothermal heat-flux calorimeter
- Building Services
- Helium pycnometer
- Rotational rheometer
- Polishing machine, various laboratory mills and laboratory crushers
- Drying cabinets with temperature and humidity control, and a vacuum drying cabinet
