University of Cyprus, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Temporary Lab Premises, Arsalides Building, Strovolos Industrial Area, Nicosia, Strovolos (Cyprus)

Single-sited

Cyprus

Ledra laboratory for the characterisation of traditional building materials was established in 2008 through the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation fully funded research program ΝΕΑ ΥΠΟΔΟΜΗ/ΝΕΚΥΠ/0308/17, which was coordinated by the University of Cyprus. The project, which aimed at characterising the monumental materials (mortars, mud bricks, natural stones etc) of Cyprus, was also supported by the Departments of Antiquities and Town Planning and Housing and a private construction company (ANADOMI Ltd).The lab is fully equipped with state-of-the-art analytical equiment for the physico-chemical and mechanical characterisation of materials. It houses a Bruker D8 Advance XRD which may be used for qualitative and quantitative mineralogical analyses, an ED-XRF for chemical analyses, a Schimadzu DTA-TG for thermal analyses, a DRMS for micro destructive in-situ and laboratory mechanical tests, a MIP, a stereoscope, a polarising optical microscope and a SEM-EDS.The aforementioned equipment is used in ongoing studies aiming at the reproduction of traditional materials using reverse engineering and the characterisation of compatible materials for restoration works. The reseach currently focuses on lime and gypsum mortars, building and decorative stones and mud bricks. The ultimate aim of the program is the establishment of a database with the characteristics of local traditional materials

X-ray fluorescence analysis, Mercury intrusion porosimetry, Mix design, Mortars, X-ray diffraction analysis, Stones, Testing, Reproduction, Microscopy, TG-DTA, Mud bricks, SEM/EDX, Physicochemical and mechanical analysis

Analytical Facilities
Materials Synthesis or Testing Facilities
Civil Engineering Research Infrastructures

Earth and Environmental Sciences
Chemistry and Material Sciences