| Activity: | Evaluation of energy efficiency in buildings in Castilla - La Mancha |
| Descripción: | The objective is to create the bases for developing and analysis, evaluation and characterization methodology in real climatic conditions of constructive systems and bioclimatic buildings aimed at assessing their energy efficiency. |
| Activity: | Handbook on the use of natural stone in construction |
| Descripción: | The objective of this activity is to ellaborate a practical handbook covering the main aspects of the use of the natural stone in architecture. |
| Activity: | Experimental study of the mechanical behaviour of bolts in ventilated façades |
| Descripción: | Experimental study characterization of the mechanical behaviour of the various types of bolts commercially available to anchor ventilated façade linings over ceramic masonry to determine which are the most suitable types of bolts and affixing procedures for each particular instance. |
| Activity: | Manufacturing of ornamentals mortars for the restoration of historical buildings |
| Descripción: | To study in depth the phisical, mecanichal and technological properties of the manufacture mortars used through the history to ornament walls and the designation of methods to manufacture replacement mortars in the restoration of historical buildings. |
| Activity: | Reduction of atmospheric emissions in the ceramics industry |
| Descripción: | To learn about the polluting emissions generated by the structural ceramics industry and determine whether they are originated by the raw materials or the fuels used in the processing and study the most suitable methods to reduce those emissions that exceed the maximum thresholds permitted by the IPPC European Directive. |
| Activity: | Instrumentation of the cover solutions test at El Cabril |
| Descripción: | Select, acquire, calibrate and verify the instruments to be installed for the test of different cover solutions for the repository for low activity radioactive waste at El Cabril (Córdoba). The test verifies two types of adjacent multilayer covers. The layers will be fitted with different sensors to record the geomechanical parameters. |
| Activity: | Technological characterization of Mauritanian clays to be used in ceramics |
| Descripción: | Characterize the mineral resources of the alluvial floodplain of the Senegal River and the Kaédi sandstones for their possible use as raw materials in the manufacture of ceramics construction materials. |
| Activity: | Automatic classification system for elaborated granite slabs |
| Descripción: | The objective is to develop an automatic system prototype capable of accurately identifying the hue of elaborated granite slabs, both dry and wet, as wll as research a variation of this system than can work with semi-elaborated material (before polishing). |
| Activity: | Characterization of stucco and plastering mortars |
| Descripción: | TEchnological caracterization of various types of mortars for stuccos and plasters currently commercialized, according to the standards required for EC labeling, and study of the possible modification of their properties through the manufacturing, handling and on site application processes. |
| Activity: | Technical viability for use of sludge of PWTS |
| Descripción: | Technical viability for use of sludge of PWTS in the fabrication of ceramic materials. Study the possibilities of reusing sludge generated at the Potable Water Treatment Station (PWTS) of Comillera (Asturias) as raw material for ceramics manufacturing processes. |
| Activity: | International training course on ceramic process, Cúcuta (Colombia) |
| Descripción: | In November 2005 a theorical-practical course about ceramic processes took place in Cúcuta (Colombia), in co-operation with the University Francisco de Paula Santander, that covered different aspects of the ceramic industry such as the study of the raw materials, the ceramic process, quality, patologies, etc. |
| Activity: | Life cycle assessment of structural ceramic materials |
| Descripción: | To carry out a Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) of ceramic products for construction manufactured in Spain, from extraction of the raw materials up to the treatment received by the product at the end of its useful life. |
| Activity: | Testing of additives for EPBM-Earth Pressure Boring Machines |
| Descripción: | Development and prove out non standard test methods for checking the effectiveness of different products and additives, such as greases and foaming agents, etc. manufactured by SIKA and used in the excavation of tunnels with earth pressure boring machines (EPBM). |
| Activity: | Web site of the Natural Stone Federation |
| Descripción: | Development of a corporate web site for the FDP with the inclusion of a wide range of information and services for its members and for the general public. |
| Activity: | Automatic measurement of brick efflorescences |
| Descripción: | Computer vision system for the objective measurement of efflorescence in bricks once they have been subjected to the washing test. |
| Activity: | Comparative study on properties for different paving tiles |
| Descripción: | Determination of the technological characteristics and properties of paving tiles for exterior use of different materials, such as natural stone, fired clay, concrete and artificial stone. |
| Activity: | Control of the expansion effects in ceramic products |
| Descripción: | Definition of a fast and reliable method that can be conducted in the factory itself, in order to predict the possible behaviour towards frost of ceramic materials for construction, as an alternative to normative tests. |
| Activity: | Development of bioclimatic constructions |
| Descripción: | Development of new, improved-efficiency building systems by combining ceramic pieces and phase-change heat accumulators. |
| Activity: | FPC system and initial type tests for aggregates plant |
| Descripción: | Preparation of the documentation of the Factory Production Control (FPC) system for the “La Chimenea” aggregate quarry and treatment plant of Gravillas Santa Cruz, S.A., and conducting of the Initial Type Tests for being granted the EC marking. |
| Activity: | Frost resistance of ceramic products |
| Descripción: | Alternative methods for the determination of frost resistance in ceramic building materials |
| Activity: | Handbook of pathologies in construction ceramics |
| Descripción: | Preparation of a Handbook of a practical nature compiling all the defects that can appear in buildings in relation to ceramic products, describing the causes of them and the most appropriate repair works for each case, along with preventive measures |
| Activity: | Improvement of properties of light weight clay blocks |
| Descripción: | Development of a new design of lightweight clay block which improves its thermal insulation properties and reduces the risk of horizontal cracking in walls constructed in this material. |
| Activity: | Measurement of the mechanical strength of brickworks |
| Descripción: | The purpose of this project is to understand the relative influence of the bricks and the mortar in the mechanical strength of brickwalls |
| Activity: | Methods to preserve high porosity natural stones |
| Descripción: | To develop preservation methods for high porosity natural stone, determining the most suitable waterproofing or water-repellent products for each variety of stone. |
| Activity: | Mortars for the restoration of historical buildings |
| Descripción: | Probing into the knowledge of physical-mechanical properties of lime-sand mortars used up until the 19th century in the construction of buildings. |
| Activity: | Natural Stone Thematic work OSNET |
| Descripción: | The object of this network is improve competitiveness in the sector grouping: producers, machinery manufacturers, research centres, universities, users, etc. |
| Activity: | Operational risks web site in the Natural Stone sector |
| Descripción: | Development of a self-diagnosis tool for making risk evaluations in the Natural Stone sector, available on a web site for the companies and other agents in the sector. |
| Activity: | Prenormative research on aggregates |
| Descripción: | To characterise the materials coming from different quarries for aggregates owned by companies in Castilla-La Mancha, according to national and European standards, determining the most suitable use for each aggregate in line with the results. |
| Activity: | Study of physico-chemical changes in historical bricks |
| Descripción: | To determine the causes and types of physical-chemical weathering of historical bricks, produced by the action of different external agents, with regard to establishing the bases for the preservation and conservation of these materials. |
| Activity: | Conservation status of the architectonic heritage |
| Descripción: | To establish a diagnosis methodology of the state of conservation of natural stone in historical buildings, by means of conducting “in situ” tests with non-destructive techniques. |
| Activity: | New clay pastes for artistic ceramics |
| Descripción: | Study of new clay pastes for artistic ceramics |
| Activity: | Improvement of acoustic insulation of bricks |
| Descripción: | Technological innovations in ceramic products with improved acoustic insulation using additives. |
| Activity: | Use of water repellents in bricks |
| Descripción: | The purpose of this work has been to study the pernicious effects of water repellents during the manufacturing of bricks and how to prevent them. |
| Activity: | Energy optimization in the ceramics industry |
| Descripción: | Optimization of energy consumption in the ceramic industry by selection of raw materials. |
| Activity: | Measurement of fissuring in natural stone with ultrasonics |
| Descripción: | Measurement of the state of fissuring of natural stone blocks by means of ultrasonic techniques. |
| Activity: | On-line quality control in brick manufacturing |
| Descripción: | Vision system for an complete quality control of brick during the manufacturing. |
| Activity: | Artistic ceramic industry - Study |
| Descripción: | New prototypes in the artistic ceramic industry of Castilla - La Mancha. |
| Activity: | Inspection of ceramic facings by computer vision- CERIND |
| Descripción: | Automatic system to inspection and classification of ceramic facings by means of computer vision |
| Activity: | Weathering of natural stone |
| Descripción: | Pre-regulation research into the weathering of natural stone for the diagnosis and treatment of the restoration of monuments |
| Activity: | Natural Stone (RedPNAT) |
| Descripción: | The objective of this network is to contribute to solve the technological needs of the sector and to improve the competitivity in the companies of the natural stone sector by the exchange and transfer of information among the members. |
| Activity: | Baked Clay Laboratory - Services |
| Descripción: | Services for testing and technical assistance in the AITEMIN Fired Clay Laboratory |
| Activity: | Bricks for the restoration of historic buildings |
| Descripción: | Preparation of bricks for the restoration of historic buildings. |
| Activity: | Technical Assistance on construction materials |
| Descripción: | Services for testing and technical assistance in the AITEMIN construction materials laboratory |