Course detail

Theoretical Basics of Special Building Materials

FAST-CJ059Acad. year: 2018/2019

Water and its influence on building materials, interface between different phases, surface tension, surface adsorption and desorption, sorption isotherm, dispersions, associative colloids, rheological properties of dispersion systems, surfactants – influence on building materials, metakaolin, fly ash, slag, water glass, alkali-activated slag, geopolymers.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Department

Institute of Technology of Building Materials and Components (THD)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Student will gain knowledge about selected chapters from the physical chemistry of water, heterogeneous dispersions, surfactants and their influence on the properties of building materials. Student will get an overview of the structure and properties of raw materials for the production of binders and last but not least student will gain a knowledge about alkali-activated aluminosilicate materials and their properties. In the lab sessions, student will practice the preparation of selected alkali-activated aluminosilicates and determine their properties. He/she will also test the influence of surfactants on the properties of building materials.

Prerequisites

Basics of general and inorganic chemistry, chemical composition of building materials, chemical nomenclature, chemistry and technology of binders.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

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. Basic teaching methods in this course are lectures and practical laboratory sessions. In the lab sessions students work in a group of 3–4. Data evaluation is processed by each student separately and based on the results students prepare a report about the tests and submit it to the supervisor.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Students can get a credit based on regular attendance and results in the laboratory sessions. The form of the exam concerning theoretical part of the course is oral.

Course curriculum

1. Water – properties and its influence on building materials
2. Interface between phases, surface tension, adsorption
3. Heterogeneous dispersions – stability, rheology
4. Surfactants – plasticizers, foaming and defoaming agents, air entraining agents, shrinkage reducing admixtures
5. Alkali-activated aluminosilicates – raw materials
6. Alkali-activators – water glass, properties
7. Slag – physico chemical properties a mineralogical composition
8. Alkali-activated slag
9. Geopolymers
10. Slag-sulfated cement and slag-lime cement

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

Not applicable.

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

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Not applicable.

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme N-P-C-SI (N) Master's

    branch M , 2. year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

  • Programme N-P-E-SI (N) Master's

    branch M , 2. year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

  • Programme N-K-C-SI (N) Master's

    branch M , 2. year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1. Water – properties and its influence on building materials
2. Interface between phases, surface tension, adsorption
3. Heterogeneous dispersions – stability, rheology
4. Surfactants – plasticizers, foaming and defoaming agents, air entraining agents, shrinkage reducing admixtures
5. Alkali-activated aluminosilicates – raw materials
6. Alkali-activators – water glass, properties
7. Slag – physico chemical properties a mineralogical composition
8. Alkali-activated slag
9. Geopolymers
10. Slag-sulfated cement and slag-lime cement

Exercise

26 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1. Introduction to the laboratory sessions
2. Determination of the surface tension of water and solutes of different salts and concrete admixtures.
3. Determination of critical micelle concentration of air entraining agents.
4. Determination of the influence of different plasticizers on the rheological properties of cement paste.
5. Effect of water glass dosage on the properties of alkali-activated slag mortar. Specimen preparation and determination of 7 days strength.
6. Effect of water glass composition (silicate modulus) on the properties of alkali-activated slag mortar. Specimen preparation and determination of 7 days strength.
7. Preparation and testing of metakaolin-based geopolymer properties, determination of the influence of different activator types.
8. Effect of the mixing time on the properties of renovation plasters – bulk density, porosity and strength.
9. Assessment of efflorescence on geopolymer samples with different composition.
10. Credit.