Construction Materials Testing + Research Laboratory

We conduct standardized and specialized testing of the chemical and physical properties of Portland cement, supplementary cementitious materials and other finely divided materials providing information concerning:

• Strength
• Soundness
• False Set
• Composition
• Time of Set
• Sulfate Resistance
• ASR Mitigation
• Absorption
• Shrinkage
• Fineness

We conduct standard and specialty testing for concrete construction materials providing information concerning:

• Freeze Thaw
• Salt Scaling Resistance
• Sulfate Resistance
• Volume Stability
• ASR Resistance
• ASR Mitigation
• Chemical Resistance
• Alkali-Carbonate Reactivity

Our laboratory provides standard and specialty testing of durability and volume stability properties of both fresh and hardened concrete, providing information concerning:

• Mixture Verification
• Fresh Properties
• Mechanical Properties
• Absorption
• Shrinkage and Expansion
• Service Life Prediction
• Abrasion Resistance
• Freeze-Thaw Resistance
• Deicer Scaling Resistance
• Chloride Ion Penetration
• Alkali-Silica Mitigation
• Alkali-Carbonate Mitigation
• Petrographic Examination

We perform standard and specialty testing on chemical, physical and durability properties of aggregates providing key data on:

• Absorption
• Specific Gravity
• Gradation
• Soundness
• Clay and Friable Particles
• Lightweight Particles
• Organic Impurities
• Scratch Hardness
• Flat and Elongated Particles
• Petrographic Examination
• Abrasion Resistance
• Freeze-Thaw Resistance
• Alkali-Silica Reactivity

American Association of State Highways and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

• Quality Management System
• Aggregate
• Concrete
• Cement
• Pozzolan
• Slag Cement

Departments of Transporation

• Illinois (IDOT): ASTM C1567 and ASTM C1293
• Massachusetts (MassDOT): AASHTO T303, ASTM C1260
  and C1567

Petrographic methods combine visual analyses using stereo, petrographic and scanning electron microscopes to examine and evaluate the optical properties and microstructural characteristics of the materials

The information from a petrographic analysis is regularly used to identify causes of distress and deterioration in materials, as well as predict future performance of the materials, and can aid in the evaluation of several issues, which include, but are not limited to:

• Surface Scaling
• Delamination
• Improper Finishing or Curing Techniques
• Discoloration of Staining
• Cause of Cracking Distress
• Freeze-Thaw Deterioration
• Corrosion of Reinforcing Steel
• Aggregate Popouts
• Long Strength Results
• Cement-Aggregate Reactions
• Chemical Attack
• Mix Design Verification
• Coating Failures
• Fire-and-Heat Related Damage