Course detail

Experimental Laboratory Methods

FAST-BJ017Acad. year: 2018/2019

The course is a review of routine and special laboratory methods and instrumentation used in the silicate industry, with a focus on the fields of ceramics, refractories and mortars and the field of technology in the evaluation of materials in terms of their suitability in the process and the assessment of performance of finished products and degradation construction materials.
Students will improve their knowledge in the implementation of physical-mechanical laboratory tests and become familiar with special methods such as high pressure mercury porosimetry, X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Discusses the principles and methods of measuring the rheology of suspensions and tests, viscosity measurements of heat capacity and heat of reaction calorimetry, peculiarities of measuring pH in the hydrating cements, as well as the different nature of glass stability in acidic and alkaline environments, corrosion processes, the protection of steel reinforcement in concrete.
Lectures are supplemented by measurements on these laboratory and testing facilities in the exercise.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Ing. Amos Dufka, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Technology of Building Materials and Components (THD)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

In this course students are very closely acquainted with the field of laboratory methods. Attention is focused mainly on a wide range of physical and chemical methods. An example of the thermal analysis methods using x-ray radiation (fluorescence and diffraction methods), methods of analyzing the pore structure (mercury porosimetry and the BET method, etc.). Students will be able for example:

Describe in detail the principles of physical and analytical methods. This means for example thermal methods, XRF XRD, microscopic methods, etc.,
Analyze the principles of various diagnostic methods,
Describe in detail the methodology of analysis in the evaluation of silicate materials,
Suggest a concept of analysis for real evaluation of specific building materials,
Interpret the relationship between the results and with the behavior of a particular material,
Based on the analysis results in an objective way to assess the state and the degradation of building materials.

Prerequisites

Theoretical fundamentals of silicates structure and chemistry, fundamentals of production technology and properties of building materials based on silicates, such as binders, ceramics, concrete etc.

Co-requisites

Knowledge in the area of physical chemistry. These include knowledge of the behavior of building materials, basic knowledge in the field of electromagnetic radiation, etc. Ability to work with technical texts and independent interpretation of the findings.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Teaching methods depend on the type of course unit as specified in the article 7 of BUT Rules for Studies and Examinations.
The content of the lectures is prepared in the digital form of presentations with the largest share of graphic details that will allow to closer understanding the objective issue. The content of exercise lectures is based on the digital presentation of task, which is then clearly undertaken by experiment and then student must compile and evaluate the results in the reports

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Attendance at seminars is compulsory. During the exercise students work protocols, protocols of the working groups, some individually. Elaboration the final test min. 65% success rate. The course ends with an examination which is compulsory written and oral. To proceed to the oral is necessary to obtain at least 25 points (max 40) to pass the exam then at least another 15 in the oral part.

Course curriculum

Familiarization with the subject content, survey of laboratory methods in the branch of silicates.
Sampling, preparation and treatment of samples for individual methods.
X-ray diffraction analysis, apparatuses, principle and utilization.
Microscopy in the range of the visible spectrum, apparatuses, principle and preparations.
Electron transmission microscopy, principle, apparatuses, utilization.
Scanning electron microscopy, principle, apparatuses, utilization.
Methods of grain size and specific surface determination.
Methods of density, volume mass and absorption determination.
High pressure mercury porozimetry, principle, apparatuses, utilization.
Differential thermal analysis, principle apparatuses, utilization.
Gravimetric thermal analysis, principle, utilization.
Contraction dilatometric thermal analysis, principle, utilization.
Principles of building materials testing, quality control, harmonization of 13standards and regulations.

Work placements

Internship opportunities as well and collaboration with renowned foreign institutions renowned in the field, such as Vienna University of Technology, National university of Kyiv etc.

Aims

Obtaining knowledge concerning common and special laboratory methods and measuring, instruments used in silicate industry and especially in production of building materials and components, utilization of these methods for evaluation of raw materials suitability for building materials production and for determination of physico-mechanical and technological properties of readymade products

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Extent and forms are specified by guarantor’s regulation updated for every academic year.

Recommended optional programme components

Opportunity to attend seminars and conferences relevant to solving problems. These include international workshop Anamet, which is completely focused on thermal analysis. Furthermore it as seminars 2Theta - Analytical standard and equipmet etc.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Not applicable.

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme B-K-C-SI Bachelor's

    branch M , 3 year of study, summer semester, compulsory

  • Programme B-P-C-SI Bachelor's

    branch M , 3 year of study, summer semester, compulsory

  • Programme B-P-E-SI Bachelor's

    branch M , 3 year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Amos Dufka, Ph.D.

Syllabus

Familiarization with the subject content, survey of laboratory methods in the branch of silicates.
Sampling, preparation and treatment of samples for individual methods.
X-ray diffraction analysis, apparatuses, principle and utilization.
Microscopy in the range of the visible spectrum, apparatuses, principle and preparations.
Electron transmission microscopy, principle, apparatuses, utilization.
Scanning electron microscopy, principle, apparatuses, utilization.
Methods of grain size and specific surface determination.
Methods of density, volume mass and absorption determination.
High pressure mercury porozimetry, principle, apparatuses, utilization.
Differential thermal analysis, principle apparatuses, utilization.
Gravimetric thermal analysis, principle, utilization.
Contraction dilatometric thermal analysis, principle, utilization.
Principles of building materials testing, quality control, harmonization of 13standards and regulations.

Exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Amos Dufka, Ph.D.

Syllabus

Introduction exercise. Students are introduced with the laboratory procedure and safety. They are introduced with filling exercise and the conditions for obtaining the credit,
The methods used for thermal analysis – typical model (sample) for differential thermal analysis,
The use of differential thermal analysis in the evaluation of specific building materials,
The practical example of the use of dilatation contraction thermal analysis,
X-ray diffraction analysis - a case study,
Use of X-ray diffraction analysis in the evaluation of specific building materials,
Methods for determining the porosity of the material. A practical example of high-pressure porosimetry interpretation of the results, a sample calculation of method BET,
Utilization X-ray fluorescence methods in the analysis of silicate materials,
Excursion to the workplace equipped with sophisticated laboratory equipment,
Utilization infrared absorption spectrography methods in the evaluation of building materials,
Utilization methods for determining particle size - sedimentation methods, using the laser beam, etc.,
The comprehensive assessment of the state respectively. rate of degradation of a particular building material,
Credit test, grant of the credit.