Research and Development for Innovation in Construction
With 80 years of experience in the research and development of building materials, technologies, and systems, our R&D departments specialize in developing innovative binders, advanced composites, and circular technologies that deliver sustainable and smart solutions for modern construction. We connect scientific precision with practical needs. Our results set new standards for quality, efficiency, and environmental responsibility in the Czech construction industry.
We utilize advanced testing methods, including microscopy, thermal analysis, and both destructive and non-destructive tests. Our research projects are driven by practical demands and lead to patents, publications, and real-world applications in modern construction.
How can we help?
Composite Materials
We primarily conduct applied research and development of advanced inorganic and organic composites, with an emphasis on sustainability and functional properties. We also focus on developing progressive manufacturing technologies. Additionally, we actively pursue our own basic research, which forms the foundation for new innovative directions and technological applications.
Binder systems
We have modern equipment for microscopy, thermal analysis, and other advanced analytical methods for studying material properties.
Composite materials for innovation in construction
We push the boundaries of building material properties in terms of functional characteristics and durability. We integrate our research with laboratory and pilot-scale verification.
Sustainability and circular economy
- Utilization of secondary raw materials – fly ash, industrial dusts, recycled concrete and brick, waste glass, etc.
- Technologies for reducing the carbon footprint in construction (utilization of CO2 in the manufacturing processes of building materials and products)
- Life Cycle Assessment of building materials and products
Development of materials and system solutions to increase the resilience of critical infrastructure objects against accidental or targeted attacks.
Development of resilient materials and research into their effects on building structures. Fiber-reinforced concrete, auxetic materials, reinforcing coatings, FRP composites, blast wave energy absorbers.
Research into material behavior at high strain rates (Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar)
Numerical simulations of high-speed events using LS-DYNA software – ballistic loading, vehicle impacts, high-speed compressive and tensile stress.
Multifunctional materials for construction
- Cement composites for electrical energy storage (structural supercapacitors)
- Materials for high-temperature applications
- Electrically conductive composites (materials with damage detection function, materials with heating function, materials shielding EMI radiation)
- Decorative concrete
- Cement composites for ballistic and blast protection
Do you need a consultation or an individual analysis?
Ing. Martina Drdlová
Binder Systems for Innovation in Construction
We research cement, lime, and other silicate binder systems with a focus on a lower carbon footprint, longer lifespan, and improved performance properties. Building on VÚSH's long-standing expertise in clinker, cement, lime, and mortars, we develop new mixtures, alternative binders, and procedures for evaluating durability, reactivity, and practical material applications. Our goal is to define standards for future construction – resilient, efficient, and fully compliant with sustainable development principles.
Development of New Binders and Materials
- Basic and applied research in the field of clinker. Synthesis of clinker and pure clinker phases.
- Project collaboration with leading European institutions in the field of basic research on clinker and cement.
- Research into new and ecological binders (blended cements with SCMs, geopolymers, carbonatable binders, autoclaved materials).
- Advanced physico-chemical characterization of binders.
- A long tradition of research and development in the field of lime.
- Collaboration on the development of binders and composites for EMI shielding.
Ecology and Sustainability in Cement Production
We develop innovative building binders with minimal environmental impact for modern and sustainable construction. We innovate the composition of building binders so that today's structures meet strict ecological and durability requirements. In developing new materials for a sustainable future in construction, we combine a scientific approach with environmental responsibility.
Characterization and Durability
Physico-chemical characterization of binders: particle analysis, chemical composition, phase and mineralogical composition, thermal methods, rheology, microscopy, preparation of microscopic samples.
Applications and LCA
We put the results of our research into practice through the development of formulations and technologies that find application in modern construction, industrial production, and specialized applications. Our goal is for every developed material to meet not only demanding technical parameters but also to be economically and ecologically sustainable. To validate environmental benefits, we use the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) method. This is a comprehensive scientific tool that allows us to:
- To quantify environmental impacts.
- To optimize formulations by adjusting the composition of binders or manufacturing processes.
- To support transparency by providing our partners with substantiated data for creating EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) as a basis for building certifications (e.g., LEED, BREEAM).