ADVANCED / SMART MATERIALS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL APPLICATIONS

The Department of Impacts of the Built Environment and Nanomaterials (IMCN) conducts interdisciplinary research corresponding to the fundamental research field of material science. Thus, the IMCN carries out studies and research on the impact of environmental factors on construction, recycling and reuse of construction and demolition waste, assessment of binder / aggregate compatibility, micro and nanomaterial production, physico-chemical and microstructural characterization of oxides and metallic materials, thermal treatments for improving the properties of oxide and metallic materials, evaluation of the durability of oxide materials by performing corrosion tests (in various aggressive environments), frost cleftness tests etc. The research staff is qualified in the field of oxide and metallic materials, with a high level of professional training in the activity fields of the Department. The IMCN is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure that can successfully carry out all the specific activities in the Department’s profile.

Questions and Answers on the Commission Recommendation on the definition of Nanomaterial – European Commission

Area Of Competence

Developing innovative solutions based on advanced/smart materials for the removal of contaminants from water, air and soil
Sourcing advanced/smart materials through a responsible and sustainable approach
Delivering nanomaterial-based solutions to environmental problems
Integrating the multifunctionality of advanced/smart materials with advanced manufacturing techniques and modeling tools to address complex environmental problems
Assessment and monitoring of environmental impacts on buildings, their degradation
Sustainability assessment of construction materials and their recycling
Technical assistance, consultancy, expertise in the fields of: recycling of materials, characterization of materials, environmental impact of construction, sustainability of construction materials

Activities

Conduct theoretical and experimental research to expand the knowledge base of advanced/smart materials, facilitating the development of new solutions to existing challenges;
Developing new methods for synthesizing crystalline, thermally and chemically stable materials with environmental applications;
Synthesis of nanoparticles through an environmentally friendly approach (e.g. bio-waste) involving low energy consumption and low production costs;
Identifying the relationship between how and microstructure of materials and their properties;
Characterization and application testing of emerging advanced materials synthesized by different bottom-up or top-down methods;
Obtaining smart materials aimed at significant improvement of existing technologies or development of new technologies with application in environmental protection;
Assessment of the degradation behavior of materials;
Identification of appropriate solutions to combat transboundary pollution;
Development of conventional and non-conventional wastewater treatment technologies;
Development of modern technologies for removal of heavy biodegradable pollutants from wastewater;
Determination of optimal technological solutions for industrial and municipal wastewater treatment;
Realization of laboratory and pilot scale experimental facilities for tailor-made solutions;
Technical assistance for the commissioning and operation of pre-treatment plants and treatment plants;
Assessment of water aggressiveness on hydrotechnical structures;
Determination of the compatibility of cements with aggregates;
Evaluation of the influence of external aggressive factors (natural aggressiveness and/or environmental pollution) on hydro-technical concretes and other construction materials;
Choosing the type of cement according to the operating conditions of the construction;
Re-use of construction and demolition waste;
Inertization/stabilization of toxic wastes in binder systems;
Monitoring the chemistry of aggressive natural and anthropogenic waters;
Elaboration of impact studies, environmental assessments, site reports, risk analysis, etc.

IMCN Infrastructure

SU-70 FE-SEM
Year: 2015
Producer: HITACHI

The scanning electron microscope SU-70 is an indispensable system to obtain valuable microstructural information, with the possibility to analyze even nanoscale formations. The high resolution (1.0 to 15 kV secondary electron image and 1.6 to 1kV secondary electron image using the deceleration technique), with a very wide magnification (25-800000 x), is fitted with dual functioning objective lens (high imaging of the sample in a magnetic field and field-free operating mode for magnetic samples). The scanning microscope is equipped with two detectors EDS and EBSD. The EDS detector allows the detection of the chemical elements from Be to Cf on an active surface of 50 mm2. The EBSD detector, with an effective resolution of 1344 × 1024, can operate even with low current of up to 100pA. It can be used to obtain maps with a minimum density of pixels equal to 4k × 4k in rectangular, circular, elliptical or random areas.