Binders subject area in the Faculty of Materials Engineering

Prof. Bastian Raab

Binders connect or bond added fillers together, thereby enabling a flexible moulding process and giving the finished material individual processing and material properties. The best known and most important binder in our society is Portland cement, one of the essential components of concrete. Without it, modern buildings and functional infrastructure would not be possible, especially given the increasing influx of people into cities. In our binders course, students learn the essential properties of inorganic binders, such as cement, lime, and gypsum, and newer binder systems such as geopolymers or C-S-H binders.

In our bachelor’s programme in Materials Engineering, students taking the “Technology of Materials IV” course are taught the basic principles of the production of inorganic binders, with particular emphasis on the chemical and mineralogical compositions and their various reaction steps to produce the finished material with defined properties.

Students taking the “Binders” specialization are taught the theory of various test methods for standard-compliant testing before consolidating the knowledge gained in practical experiments. Further insight is gained into the setting reaction, ensuring that students are able to implement targeted application in their later professional life. Special attention is also given to the mode of action of various additives as well as possibilities of recycling and of reducing CO2 emissions to ensure the sustainability of the building material.

In the master’s degree programme, students are taught about the durability and possible damage mechanisms of the binders and learn how this can be prevented through a range of different special binders and raw materials.