The Department of Nanomaterials and Ceramic Engineering (NCE) provides expert testing and consultancy services to public and private organizations and industries through the Bureau of Research, Testing and Consultation (BRTC) – a central body of BUET - responsible for carrying out technical services to the client.
The department conducts almost a full set of tests for ceramic and glass materials and products in accordance to the international standards. Also compositional, micro structural and other tests of cement and other materials and finished products are conducted by the department.
Why Testing is Required?- Improve product quality
- Enhance safety
- Build consumer confidence
- Benchmark against competitors’ products
- Finding the root cause of product failure
Characterization Facilities for Industrial Testing:
In addition to the advanced material characterization tools described in the facilities page, the Department of Nanomaterials and Ceramic Engineering is equipped with the following facilities for testing purpose.
Ceramic and Tiles Testing Facilities:
- Dimensions and surface quality according to EN ISO 10545-1 standard
- Water absorption capacity, apparent porosity, apparent relative density and bulk density according to EN ISO 10545-2 standard
- Modulus of rupture/breaking strength according to EN ISO 10545-4 standard
- Impact resistance according to EN ISO 10545-5 standard
- Surface abrasion according to EN ISO 10545-7 standard
- Thermal shock resistance according to EN ISO 10545-9 standard
- Frost resistance according to EN ISO 10545-12 standard
- Chemical resistance according to EN ISO 10545-13 standard
- Glaze thickness according to European model No: GTP006EU standard
- Glossiness according to ASTM C346 standard
- Thermal expansion coefficient by using dilatometry
Cement Testing Facilities:
- Chemical analysis of cements and cement clinkers:
- Oxide compositions of SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , CaO, Fe 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , MgO, MnO 2 , SO 3 and total alkali content (Na 2 O & K 2 O as equivalent Na 2 O)
- Compound composition analysis of tri-calcium aluminate (C 3 A), di-calcium Silicate (C 2 S), Tri-calcium Silicate (C 3 S), Tetracalciumaluminoferrite (C 4 AF) etc.
- Lime Saturation Factor (LSF)
- Loss on Ignition (LOI)
- Insoluble Residue (IR)
Glass Testing Facilities:
- Glass Transition Temperature (T g )- by using DSC/TG
- Surface Stress Polarimeter- measures stress for both flat and curved surfaces of the glass
- Edge Stress Meter- complies with worldwide industry standards and test methods, including ASTM, GANA, and CE requirement
- Digital Roll Wave Gauge- measures out-of-plane deformations on the surface of the glass
- Polariscope / Polarimeter System-measures stress through any practical thickness of flat glass. This model will measure 'temper number' for container testing in accordance with ASTM C-148
- Internal Stress Measurement System/Scattered Light Polariscope