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Sustainable Material Characterisation Laboratory

Who we are?

Welcome to the PolyU Sustainable Material Characterisation Laboratory, which is a part of Carbon Neutrality Material Teaching Laboratory[1]. Our lab addresses in teaching and research on carbon neutral materials, implementing the school's plan to build a sustainable campus. This laboratory covers the research, characterization and prototype of carbon neutral materials, achieving the integration of theory and practice from initial material development, mid-term material performance testing to final product display.

[1] Carbon Neutrality Material Teaching Laboratory is the teaching facilities funded by the Areas of Excellence Committee (AoEC) through the Large Equipment Fund for Teaching.

What we do?

We’ll support the research of sustainable materials and upcycling for construction waste (e.g. concrete/ timber), consumer waste (e.g. plastic), and food waste (e.g. coffee grounds) covering the following processes.

  • Recycle: Turn waste into low-carbon recycled materials through melting, granulation or hot pressing processes.
  • Characterise: Determine the carbon level, physical and mechanical properties of recycled materials in a laboratory environment using thermogravimetric analysis[2].
  • Prototype: Prototype recycled materials for upcycling purposes rapidly.

[2] A method of thermal analysis in which the mass of a sample is measured over time as the temperature changes.

What kind of material tests we run?

Sustainable Material Characterisation Laboratory concentrates on materials testing. At this stage, the performance and environmental sustainability of recycled materials are verified through multidimensional analysis:

  1. the rheological properties of sustainable materials are analysed using a rheometer,
  2. the composition and thermal effects are analysed using TGA and other techniques,
  3. the mechanical stability of materials is analysed through mechanical testing, and
  4. the life cycle analysis (LCA) is comprehensively completed to quantify the carbon footprint.

This process not only confirms the practicality of the materials, but also scientifically proves their ecological advantages, promoting the industrialization of resource recycling. We will arrange wide range of AoEC equipment for researchers (Compression Machine for ABCT, TGA for FSN, etc.) for different tests.

Specification

tga new

Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA) with Auto Sampler

Location: U104

Process: Testing

Material: Construction Materials and Wastes, Polymer

Specification:

Model: KEP SETARAM THEMYS ONE+

Major specification:

  • Measuring ranges: +/- 1000 mg or +/- 200 mg
  • Auto sampler with a 32-position carousel
  • Furnace configuration up to 1150
  • Temperature scanning rate: 0.01 to 100 /min

Application:

  • Inorganically mineral qualitative and quantitative determination
  • Organic carbon content determination

wance new

Wance Compression Machine for Mortar

Location: U005

Process: Construction Materials

Material: Multiple Materials

Specification:

  • Maximum test force: 300kN (compressive strength); 10kN (flexural strength)
  • Net distance between two columns: 330mm
  • Loading speed: 2400 ± 200N/s (compressive strength); 50 ± 5N/s (flexural strength)

Rheometer (RST CC)

Location: U005

Process: Construction Materials

Material: Multiple Materials

Specification:

  • Speed ranging from 0.0001 to 80 rpm in both clockwise or counter-clockwise
  • Torque ranging from 0-10000 Nmm with a resolution of 0.05 Nmm and accuracy better than 0.02Nm
  • Specimen volume of 3L with inner diameter of 165 mm and height of 175 mm
  • Special proximity sensor with automatic stop function

Rheometer (CP-5000)

Location: U005

Process: Construction Materials

Material: Multiple Materials

Specification:

  • Measurement range: 0.6-540,000,000 mPa.s
  • Accuracy:  ±1% (of current range)
  • Repeatability: 0.2%
  • Automatic temperature control: Optional temperature range of -60~300°C
  • Sample volume: 0.03~0.15ml (cone-plate system); 2.1~25ml (coaxial cylinder system)

Penetration Resistance Test

Location: U005

Process: Construction Materials

Material: Construction Materials

Specification:

  • In compliance with ASTM C403/C403M-16
  • Maximum penetration force of 1000 N
  • Indication error within -1% to 1%
  • Minimum graduation value of 0.1 N
electronic balance

Electronic Balance (ten thousandth)

Location: U104

Process: Construction Materials

Material: Multiple Materials

Specification:

  • Model: BSA120.4
  • 120g range
  • ±0.1mg
  • Tray size with a diameter of 90mm

Drying Oven (normal)

Location: U005

Process: Construction Materials

Material: Multiple Materials

Specification:

  • Provided for desiccation, torrefaction, wax-melting and sterilization in laboratory
  • Uniform distribution of air temperature and forced-air convention
  • Temperature range RT+10~200°C
  • Temperature stability ±1°C
  • Chamber volume: 136L
  • Interior dimension (W x D x H, mm): 550 x 450 x 550
drying oven vacuum

Drying Oven (vacuum drying)

Location: U104

Process: Construction Materials

Material: Multiple Materials

Specification:

  • Model: BPZ-6033LCB
  • Temperature control range: RT+10-200
  • Inner container size: 320 × 320 × 320 mm
  • Program-controlled drying monitoring with automatic ventilation at end of process

Enquiries

LIU Ming-kit Kenny 廖銘傑

Engineering Manager (Construction and Infrastructure Team)

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