Univ.-Prof. DI Dr. Roman Lackner
Material Technology
The Material Technology working group deals with the entire life cycle of materials, from the production process, the optimisation of technical properties towards aspects of durability and possible recyclability. The research work is based on a comprehensive characterisation of the material properties on – if necessary – different length scales at the NanoLab of the University of Innsbruck. This approach is not limited to selected materials and technical properties, with possibilities and potential applications being wide-ranging. The research comprises e.g. the improvement of the production process (energy consumption, CO2 footprint) and material performance as well as aspects of durability during service life (when subjected to mechanical loading and/or thermal/chemical attack) and sustainability of materials (recycling).
Topics in material technology ranging from experimental characterization, modelling of material behaviour to predicting the future performance of materials.
The constantly improving methods used in experimental characterisation – also on very small length scales – provide the basis for the development of models taking finer scales into account. These models allow us to consider different material phases, their composition and spatial distribution (morphology) as well as to capture any changes in the course of material production and processes during service life (mechanical loading, chemical/thermal attacks). Research aims e.g. at improved production processes (energy consumption, CO2 footprint), the identification of decisive parameters for material improvement by means of sensitivity analysis and, finally, the opimisation of the performance of materials as regards their technical properties as well as durability aspects when subjected to mechanical/thermal/chemical loading.
The NanoLab at the University of Innsbruck is one of several core facilities in Innsbruck, providing a broad range of methods for the experimental characterisation of both inorganic (such as cement/concrete, ceramics, glass, metals) and organic materials (such as polymers, wood, composite materials, bitumen). With the help of various spectroscopic, microscopic and X-ray analytical methods – in addition to the atomic and molecular structure – surface properties and the mineralogical/chemical composition of materials are identified (see figure 1). Additionally, technical (mechanical, thermal, electrical, hygral, …) properties of materials are determined (see figure 2), while a high-resolution X-ray microscope provides access to the three-dimensional micro- and pore structure of materials (see figure 3).
Figure 1: Surface characterisation using focus variation microscopy
Figure 2: Characterisation of mechanical properties
Figure 3: Microstructure of materials obtained from X-ray microscopy
Research on the chemistry of building materials has been carried out at the department for several decades. In the past, the focus was on mineral binders and the development of formulations for concrete and mortar. In recent years, the research area has been expanded towards various activities, now including the interaction of different materials and the investigation of damage processes when materials are subjected to mechanical loading and/or thermal/chemical attack, such as observed e.g. in case of plastics, plastic binders, sealants and corrosion coatings. The continuous analysis of damage mechanisms by the working group has already resulted in a broad knowledge in this segment (see figure 1), serving as basis for future developments and research initiatives.
Figure 1: Damage analysis using electron microscopy