Laboratory research on geomaterials

Provided services

  • Technical mineralogy and petrography
  • Analysis of composition, structure, and physico-chemical changes in geomaterials and building materials using methods of optical microscopy, image processing and analysis, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, and thermal analysis (TG/DTA/DSC)
  • Measurement of thermal properties of geomaterials and determination of their thermal stability
  • Measurement of He-density of materials; measurement of specific surface area and pore size distribution in materials by gas physisorption methods
  • Analysis of tendency of metallurgical by-products towards volume changes
  • Determination of strength and deformation parameters of rocks and other geomaterials under uniaxial and triaxial states of stress
    Uniaxial compression or tension tests; Brazilian test (indirect tension); bending tests
    Triaxial tests: standard triaxial testing (including determination of failure envelope); special multiaxial tests (specific conditions and evolution of loading including axial extension tests); creep and relaxation tests; cyclic loading tests (separation of plastic and elastic strains); analysis of limit states (strain driven tests)
    Analysis of stress-strain characteristics; determination of standard mechanical moduli (Young modulus, Poisson ratio, bulk modulus) or special parameters for particular constitutive models

  • Determination of fracture toughness of rocks
  • Measurements of microhardness and micro-indentation Young's modulus
  • Assessment of physical interactions between rocks and fluids
    Measurements of gas permeability of rocks under triaxial state of stress
    Long-term tests of the dynamics of water absorption and evaporation
    Standard tests for water absorption and drying properties of rocks

  • Analysis of the composition and properties of materials used in historical buildings and artistic objects
    Petrographic and mineralogical analysis of historical building and decorative stone
    Analysis of the composition, structure, and state of corrosion of historical mortars
    Stratigraphy and material identification of surface treatments on historical buildings and artistic objects
    Material analysis of pigments and binders in colour layers
    Assessment of the salinity of materials used in historical buildings and objects

  • Identification of potential sources of raw materials for the production of historical building materials
    Petrographic analysis of aggregates from historical mortars and plasters; determination of relevant comparative parameters for identifying potential sources of raw materials (according to certified methodology)
    Material analysis of binders in historical lime mortars; determination of relevant comparative parameters for identifying potential sources of raw materials (according to certified methodology)
    Petrographic analysis of stone from historical buildings and artistic objects; determination of relevant comparative parameters for identifying potential sources of raw materials
    Comparison of stone samples and components of mortars and plasters from historical objects with samples from potential source locations; evaluation of material similarity

  • Preparation of test specimens from rocks and other geomaterials by drilling and cutting; preparation of thin sections and polished sections for optical microscopy
  • Professional consultation and expertise