Micromeritics’ Instrument Grant Committee has recently selected its latest grant recipient. A 3Flex surface characterisation analyser has been awarded to the civil and environmental engineering department of MIT.
Senior research scientist Dr Roland Pellenq states the department ‘aims at determining the poro-mechanical and transport properties of the most important technological, economical and environmental materials in the world: cement and concrete; source rocks for oil and gas, oxide, glasses and clays for nuclear energy and nuclear waste storage’.
To this end, they are utilising a method they refer to as the ‘nanoscope’ as a way to scrutinise and manipulate materials in such a broad range of magnifications. Therefore, the pore structure characterisation, for example porosity assessment, pore size distribution, specific surface etc., is the key factor in their approach and is the reason for they applied for the Micromeritics gift award.
Dr. Pellenq is one of the co-founders and lead scientist of the Concrete Sustainability Hub, [email protected], opened October 2009, an interdisciplinary research centre dedicated to the reduction of the environmental footprint of the cement and concrete industry. Pellenq was hired as a MIT Senior Research Scientist in November 2010 and is the director of the CNRS-MIT joint laboratory ‘Multiscale Material Science of Energy and Environment’.
Micromeritics’ president Preston Hendrix said: "This programme is designed to promote and advance the acquisition and use of particle characterisation instrumentation in non-profit universities and institutions, where other means of funding are not generally available.
"We are very proud and excited to present this award in an ongoing grant programme to support important research."
Mr Hendrix has appointed a special grant selection committee to ensure the success and effectiveness of this programme.
Micromeritics’ Instrument grant programme is intended to provide particle characterisation instruments to non-profit universities and research organisations for the purpose of fostering and supporting meritorious research projects. A maximum of one instrument / integrated system will be awarded a calendar quarter.
Applications may be submitted at any time in accordance with the application instructions and will remain active for a period of one year from the date of submission.
For more information, please contact Micromeritics.
