Inorganic building materials such as lime or gypsum mortars, cement concrete or masonry units such as clay bricks have a long tradition since ancient civilisations. Even nowadays, they are produced in huge quantities worldwide, however, materials science has further developed modern production technologies to result in high performance materials with tailored properties, depending on their application. Composite materials, e.g. reinforced concrete, offer enhanced properties and a wider range of application.

The module presents typical natural resources as well as secondary raw materials (industrial wastes) for building materials and their production processes. Then, technical properties of building products and components are discussed and test methods for their analysis and characterisation are presented. Also, aging of materials due to corrosion in natural or industrial exposure and its characterisation is considered.
The implications of materials production and use on environmental parameters, e.g. consumption of mineral resources, energy, carbon dioxide emission and construction waste are discussed.

- Fundamental knowledge of building materials and building material analytics

180 hours / 6 CP
Building Materials Analysis & Characterizations:
• time for lectures and exercises 28 h
• time for preparation and post processing 38 h
• preparation for exams 24 h

Binders and Ceramic Building Materials:
• time for lectures and exercises 14 h
• time for preparation and post processing 19 h
• preparation for exams 12 h

Corrosion of Materials:
• time for lectures and exercises 14 h
• time for preparation and post processing 19 h
• preparation for exams 12 h

module exam (one mark): written exam

The Science and Technology of Civil Engineering Materials;
J. Francis Young, Sidney Mindess

Construction Materials – Their Nature and Behaviour;
J. M. Illston, P.L.J. Domone

Introduction to the Chemistry of Inorganic Cements;
K. Scrivener, F. Young

Cement Chemistry;
J. Richarson, H.F.W. Taylor