Presentation
António Bettencourt Ribeiro
Head of Department
The Materials Department traces its origins to the Materials Study and Testing Unit, created in 1886 by initiative of the Director of Works for the Port of Lisbon.
The Department’s mission is to respond to society's challenges in the field of building materials, thus contributing to a smart and sustainable growth.
The Materials Department contributes to the fulfilment of LNEC's mission through the development, characterization, and performance evaluation of construction materials including aspects related to:
a) Sustainability.
b) Heritage conservation and rehabilitation.
c) Study and modelling of degradation processes.
d) Instrumentation and diagnostic techniques.
The Department has a team of around 60 elements, a third of which are researchers, with multidisciplinary training at postgraduate level (doctoral or masters), skilled in Civil, Chemical and Materials Engineering.
The Materials Department develops R&D&I activities in the areas of characterization, behaviour, development, and application of the following materials:
- Concrete, mortars and cement grouts.
- Cements and other inorganic binders.
- Natural, artificial, and recycled aggregates.
- Stone and ceramics.
- Metals and inorganic coatings.
- Paints, varnishes, and organic coatings.
- Plastic materials and polymer matrix composites.
- Bituminous binders.
The Department supports the construction industry through standardization, regulation, and certification activities, and carries out science and technology services within the scope of supporting the selection of materials or products for specific applications, assessing the causes of anomalies in construction works and its repair or possible mitigation solutions.
Organically, the Materials Department is structured into 3 units:
- Cementitious Materials Unit;
- Organic Materials and Metallic Materials Unit;
- Natural and Built Heritage Conservation Unit.