The Chemistry Laboratory conducts fundamental studies of highway materials to understand both failure mechanisms and superior performance. New standard test methods are developed to improve and facilitate the chemical analysis of highway materials and to characterize and quantify new or alternative sustainable materials. The Laboratory also assists with forensic investigations of premature failures of pavements and other highway structures.

Laboratory Description

Chemical characterization entails both sample preparation and analysis. Traditional wet chemistry techniques are used to modify paving and concrete materials and to prepare and condition samples for further testing and analysis. The chemical results are often tied to physical test results from the Binder, Bituminous Mixtures, or Concrete Laboratories, to compile a chemico-physico perspective and evaluate its effect on performance. The Chemistry Laboratory complex includes a traditional chemistry laboratory for wet chemistry and sample preparation, and two laboratories dedicated to instrumentation.

Chemistry Laboratory

This laboratory has all the necessary equipment for preparation of samples and standards for various analyses of liquid and solid samples. The laboratory houses traditional equipment including glassware, fume hoods, a muffle furnace, centrifuge, aggregate mill, and ovens. More specialized equipment includes a nitrogen gas purged desiccator and glove box to provide an inert atmosphere for the study of ASR (alkali silica reaction) gels, and other cementitious materials. Additionally, the lab is equipped with a particle size analyzer and equipment used to prepare fused beads for x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis.