Bus Stop: Landesmuseum
Amidst rolling thunder, Frau Hitt is petrified on the Nordkette. If cement and aggregates are mixed with water in the right proportions, it also becomes stone, or more precisely concrete. This building material is being studied at the Faculty of Engineering Sciences. The Unit of Material Technology investigates how the curing of concrete can be influenced by the addition of various substances in order to react to respective conditions. For example, on long journeys to a remote construction site, so-called retarders ensure that the concrete does not solidify during transport. Conversely, the overly slow curing at winter temperatures can be counteracted by adding an accelerator.
Concrete Hitt
At the Unit of Material Technology, Frau Hitt is petrified a second time by pouring a fine-grained concrete over a doll. The liquid stone consists of fine sand and SupraCem 45, a special cement from the Tyrolean company Schretter & Cie. The curing time of this rapid-setting cement can be adjusted, i.e. slowed down or accelerated, with additives.
Faculty of Engineering Sciences
Photos: © Paul Treichl 2019