RESEARCH AND TESTING
The Australian Centre for Infrastructure Durability (ACID) will focus on the delivery of solutions for Industry through the provision of innovative and high quality research in the development of:
Smarter structural maintenance technologies and techniques
- New sensors and monitors for structural life prediction
- Validated models for structural life prediction
- Validated models for materials life prediction
Advanced corrosion mitigation technologies
- New cathodic protection controls and standards
- Chemical corrosion inhibitors
- Sacrificial anode technologies
New materials for improved durability and corrosion resistance
- Corrosion protection coatings
- Alloys and new metals with improved corrosion resistance
- Durable structural polymers and composites
- Materials for specific environments (e.g. high temperature corrosion resistant alloys)
- New knowledge and understanding in surface engineering and corrosion science
ACID will also assist in facilitating access for Industry to modern research and testing capabilities in:
- Electrochemical and surface characterisation
- Integrated durability assessment for carbon-fibre reinforced polymers
- Variable environmental test chambers.
Research Capabilities
Coatings
Inhibitors
Cathodic Protection
Concrete Durability
Monitoring & Sensors
Modelling & Prediction
Polymer Degradation
Alloys Development and Processing
Materials Selection
Electrochemistry
Accelerated Low Water Corrosion
Marine Corrosion
Atmospheric Corrosion
High Temperature Corrosion
Stress Corrosion Cracking
Hydrogen Embrittlement and Corrosion Fatigue
Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion
Testing Capabilities
Profilometer (stylus, 3D optical)
Microscopy Facilities (SEM, EDAX, TEM FIB, He-ion)
Microbiological testing
Water quality testing
Concrete mixing and testing
Mechanical properties – strength, shrinkage, creep, elastic modulus, hardness
Laser particle analyser
Mercury intrusion porosimetry
Nitrogen gas sorption
Thermal capacity
Conductivity
Conditioning samples for accelerated weathering
Accelerated Ageing
Electrochemistry (potentiostats, EIS, SECM w/ Kelvin Probe)
High temperature molten salt facilities
Salt spray