Project Description

Technological tests

Contact person: Pietro Bruzzi – bruzzi@centroceramico.it – Mobile: +39 340 6885491

Concrete paving blocks

  • Dimensions EN 1338 – Annex C
  • Determination of total water absorption EN 1338 – Annex E
  • Measurement of bending strength and breaking load EN 1338 – Annex F
  • Measurement of abrasion resistance EN 1338 – Annex G
  • Determination of unpolished slip resistance EN 1338 – Annex I
  • Visual aspect EN 1338 – Annex J

Concrete paving flags

  • Dimensions EN 1339 – Annex C
  • Determination of total water absorption EN 1339 – Annex E
  • Measurement of bending strength and breaking load EN 1339 – Annex F
  • Measurement of abrasion resistance EN 1339 – Annex G
  • Determination of unpolished slip resistance EN 1339 – Annex I
  • Visual aspect EN 1339 – Annex J

Chemical, physical, mechanical characterisation

Contact person: Andrea Bernasconi – bernasconi@centroceramico.it – Mobile: +39 345 8410333

CEMENT

Chemical determinations

  • Sample attack
  • Single chemical determination
  • Sulphates – gravimetric determination

CONCRETE

Chemical characteristics

  • Sample attack
  • Single chemical determination
  • Sulphates – gravimetric determination
  • Total sulphur
  • Organic substances
  • pH of the mix
  • Determination of the Portland-cement content of hardened hydraulic-cement concrete – ASTM C 1084-10

Surface texture characterisation; colour measurements

Contact person: Barbara Mazzanti – mazzanti@centroceramico.it – Mobile: +39 340 9631182

Colour measurements

  • Colour coordinates

Surface roughness and texture

  • Surface roughness measurement; determination of the parameters EN ISO 4287
  • 3D surface profile and/or imaging
  • Surface mapping
  • Data processing and 3D images of the surface

Mineralogical and microstructural characterisation, functional performance (thermal conductivity, photocatalysis, antibacterial, …)

Contact persons:

XRD analysis

  • XRD analysis (with or without interpretation)
  • Quantitative XRD

Microscopic analysis

  • SEM observation
  • EDS Microanalysis
  • Stereomicroscope observation
  • Optical microscope observation
  • Images
  • Quantitative microscopic analysis (porosity and pore/grain size distribution, etc.

Thermal conductivity (direct or indirect measurement from thermal diffusivity and specific heat)

Photocatalysis and resistance to mould, bacteria; cleanability and durability

  • Photocatalysis tests (internal protocol, ISO 10678, ISO 22197, …)
  • Antibacterial tests for photocatalytic surfaces (internal protocol, ISO 27447, …) and non-photocatalytic surfaces (internal protocol, ISO 22196, …)
  • Determination of the resistance to mould colonisation for photocatalytic and non-catalytic surfaces (internal protocol, BS 5980)
  • Durability tests for surface treatments/finishes/functionalisation
  • Cleanability tests for photocatalitic or non-photocatalytic surfaces for internal or external environments (internal protocol, ISO 27448)

Thermal analysis, wettability, density

Contact person: Giovanni Ridolfi – ridolfi@centroceramico.it – Mobile: +39 345 9317030

Thermal analysis

  • Heating microscope
  • DTA up to 1200 °C
  • DTA up to 1200 °C and back
  • DTA up to 1500 °C
  • DTA up to 1500 °C and back
  • TG
  • TG + DTA and back
  • TG + DTA

Determination of contact angle

Density

  • Determination of the density by helium pycnometer

Dilatometry

  • Thermo dilatometric analysis (green), heating up to 1000 °C and cooling
  • Coefficient of linear thermal expansion ASTM E 228

Mercury porosimetry