Two weeks of building scientific cooperation are behind us

In the period from May 14 to 28,
2023, members of our MSAGroup research team (Joanna Fonczyk, Joanna Styczeń,
Martyna Janek and Wojtek Franus) were on research visits, which included
scientific cooperation with two research groups: Concrete Research Group
headed by Aleksandra Radlinska and Structural Science Group headed by
Olaf Borkiewicz. During our week-long stay at Penn State University, we had the
opportunity to present two papers titled. “Influence of zeolite framework
on the cement hydration process” and “Microbially Induced Carbonates
Precipitation (MICP) in self-healing cement composites”,as well as learn
about the technique of 3D printing large-scale concrete architectural elements
and the research potential of this University. Amazing impression!

Then, after an almost 11-hour car trip, we arrived at Argonne National Laboratory, where, under the supervision of Kamilla Wiaderek and Olaf Borkiewicz, we conducted pilot experiments on the level of ordering of the C-S-H structure depending on the contribution of the pozzolanic additive (in our case, it was the allite-synthetic zeolite system) during the initial period of hydration, and phase changes in carbonate minerals during the process of self-healing cracks and cracks in concrete using the potential of bacteria. Olu, Kamilo, Olafie thank you for your hospitality and great atmosphere during our visit!