Test Laboratory Hygric properties and inorganic materials

Hygric Material Properties

Determination of these properties is a prerequisite for performing numerical simulations of the moisture balance and obtaining approval for new building products. Moisture properties include both moisture transport and storage coefficients.

Moisture transport coefficients:

• Water absorption coefficient
• Capillary transport coefficient
• Diffusion resistance factor

Moisture storage coefficients:

• Capillary saturation
• Sorption isotherms
• Moisture retention curve

List of all tests in the following areas:

Hygrometric analyses

• Determination of reference moisture content (DIN EN ISO 12571)
  
• Determination of sorption isotherms
• Determination of water vapor permeability (DIN EN ISO 12572)
• Determination of water absorption coefficient (DIN EN ISO 15148)
• Determination of water absorption and saturation coefficients (in-house method)
  
• Determination of bulk density
• Determination of true density
• Determination of pore size distribution
• Determination of overhygroscopic moisture storage function (in-house method)
• Determination of capillary transport coefficients (in-house method)
• Determination of resistance to water penetration (DIN EN 20811)
• Determination of linear thermal and hygroscopic expansion
• Outdoor weathering testing of building envelope components

Plaster and mortar

• Testing of freshly mixed mortars. Determination of consistence, bulk density and air content (DIN EN 1015-3, 1015-6, 1015-7)
  
• Determination of workability time (DIN EN 1015-9)
  
• Determination of water retention (WTA 2-2-91)
• Determination of bulk density of hardened mortar (DIN EN 1015-10)
  
• Determination of adhesion strength (DIN EN 1015-12)
  
• Determination of depth of water ingress (WTA 2-2-91)
• Determination of salt resistance (WTA 2-2-91)
• Determination of the rain protection by plasters and coating materials
• Determination of shrinkage and expansion (DIN 52450)
• Determination of the elastic modulus by tensile testing (on the basis of DIN 53457)

Pore space properties

The determination of pore space properties serves to characterize the material concerning the pore spaces accessible to water.

• bulk density
• true density
• pore size distribution
• porosity 
• inner surface area

Hygrothermal dimensional stability characteristics

These material properties characterise the deformation due to changes in temperature or moisture content.

• thermal dilatation
• hygric dilatation

Field tests

The field tests serve to investigate the impact of climatic influences on building materials and to validate hygrothermal calculation models.

• complete facades
• facade elements
  
• test prisms 

Fresh mortar properties

The fresh mortar properties describe the working properties of the mortars and plasters.

• consistence
• bulk density
• air content
• water retentivity
• workability

Complete list of all pertinent tests:

Moisture tests

• Sorption isotherms
• Water vapour permeability (DIN 52615)
• Water absorption coefficient (DIN 52617)
• Water absorption and saturation (DIN 52103)
• Bulk density (DIN 52102)
• True density (DIN 52102)
• Distribution of porous radii
• Determination of the capillary moisture retention curve (IBP method)
• Liquid transport coefficient (IBP method)
• Water tightness (DIN 53886)
• Thermal and hygric change of length
• Open-air tests on facade elements
  

Plaster and mortar

• Consistence, bulk density, air content (DIN 18555 part 2)
• Processing time (DIN 18555 part 8)
• Water retentivity (WTA 2-2-91)
• Bulk density of hardened mortars (DIN 18555 part 3)
• Flexural and compressive strength (DIN 18555 part 3)
• Adhesive strength (DIN 18555 part 6)
• Depth of water penetration (WTA 2-2-91)
• Resistance against salts (WTA 2-2-91)
• Rain protection of plaster and coatings (DIN 18556)
• Shrinkage and swelling (DIN 52450)
• E-modulus (similar to DIN 53457)

Solid Mortar Properties

The solid mortar properties describe the characteristics of the hardened plaster or mortar with regard to strength and to the hygric properties in order to assess rain protection. Strength characteristics are:

• bending tensile strength
• compressive strength
• adhesive strength
• Young's modulus
  

Complete list of all pertinent tests:

Moisture tests

• Sorption isotherms
• Water vapour permeability (DIN 52615)
• Water absorption coefficient (DIN 52617)
• Water absorption and saturation (DIN 52103)
• Bulk density (DIN 52102)
• True density (DIN 52102)
• Distribution of porous radii
• Determination of the capillary moisture retention curve (IBP method)
• Liquid transport coefficient (IBP method)
• Water tightness (DIN 53886)
• Thermal and hygric change of length
• Open-air tests on facade elements
  

Plaster and mortar

• Consistence, bulk density, air content (DIN 18555 part 2)
• Processing time (DIN 18555 part 8)
• Water retentivity (WTA 2-2-91)
• Bulk density of hardened mortars (DIN 18555 part 3)
• Flexural and compressive strength (DIN 18555 part 3)
• Adhesive strength (DIN 18555 part 6)
• Depth of water penetration (WTA 2-2-91)
• Resistance against salts (WTA 2-2-91)
• Rain protection of plaster and coatings (DIN 18556)
• Shrinkage and swelling (DIN 52450)
• E-modulus (similar to DIN 53457)

Hygroscopic Properties

Hygroscopic properties refers to the characteristics of plasters and mortar in relation to the diffusion and capillary transport of moisture.

• Water vapor diffusion resistance
• Capillary water absorption
• Porosity

Complete list of all pertinent tests:

Moisture tests

• Reference water content (DIN 52620)
• Sorption isotherms
• Water vapour permeability (DIN 52615)
• Water absorption coefficient (DIN 52617)
• Water absorption and saturation (DIN 52103)
• Bulk density (DIN 52102)
• True density (DIN 52102)
• Distribution of porous radii
• Determination of the capillary moisture retention curve (IBP method)
• Liquid transport coefficient (IBP method)
• Water tightness (DIN 53886)
• Thermal and hygric change of length
• Open-air tests on facade elements

Plastr and mortar

• Consistence, bulk density, air content (DIN 18555 part 2)
• Processing time (DIN 18555 part 8)
• Water retentivity (WTA 2-2-91)
• Bulk density of hardened mortars (DIN 18555 part 3)
• Flexural and compressive strength (DIN 18555 part 3)
• Adhesive strength (DIN 18555 part 6)
• Depth of water penetration (WTA 2-2-91)
• Resistance against salts (WTA 2-2-91)
• Rain protection of plaster and coatings (DIN 18556)
• Shrinkage and swelling (DIN 52450)
• E-modulus (similar to DIN 53457)