Business from technology

New materials technology in building

Competence

We study and develop material and manufacturing technologies in concrete, road and route constructions, construction products based on steel and other metals as well as wood-based products.

Concrete:
Material technology comprises the study of the mechanical, chemical and physical characteristics of fresh and hardened concrete as well as modelling of microstructure in concrete. Manufacturing technology comprises the production of ready-mixed concrete and manufacturing concrete products and related site practices.

Road and route:
Our operations are characterised by combining performance and life cycle approaches with research targets. We produce new innovations and solutions for our customers: production methods, dimensioning, measuring methods, design and products.

Metals:
We have extensive experience in applied research and product development of steel-based solutions. Our material technology research focuses on the characteristics of metal materials used in various construction applications. The material research includes development of nano-technology-based easy-to-clean surface treatments for metal substrates.

Wood:
Our material technology research includes the study of the mechanical, chemical and physical characteristics of wood and wood-based products as well as the microstructure of wood. Studies related to surface treatments of wood are an essential part of our research.

In order to ensure that the performance and life cycle of material in building applications is as expected, essential technical characteristics and life cycle impacts are examined and protection and repair methods for these products are developed.

Challenges

The following general trends are important for our contemporary material research in the built environment
• Functionality of materials and products
-customer-oriented properties: aesthetics, surface properties, repair, surface treatment, new functional properties (nano-materials, filler technology, porosity)
• Performance
-life-time management, service life dimensioning, durability
• Environmental effects
-use of by-products, recycling, optimised material use, field testing

Solutions

We provide research and development services in the following fields:

• structural properties of materials
  
• manufacturing technology
  
• thermal and humidity-related performance
  
• durability and service life
  
• fire-related characteristics
  
• acoustics
  
• environmental impacts
  
• exterior features and surface treatment
  

Benefits

Implementation of functionality to materials and products for built environment (buildings, industrial facilities, infrastructures) in the following areas:

• Material solutions for the built environment
  
• Implementation of nanotechnology and new functionalities to high volume products
  
• Development and management of large volume materials
  
• Improvement of performance, service-life and durability via material technology