Chennai: Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) in association with French cement major Lafarge Group's research arm will launch cement research project. The announcement was made by an official on Wednesday i.e. on March 23, 2011.
As per sources, the cement major's research arm, Lafarge Research Centre, and IIT-M last year signed a Memorandum of Understanding, under which the IIT's civil engineering department set up a laboratory to carry out joint research programmes.
Besides, the Lafarge Research Centre has funded the laboratory to the tune of Rs.1.5 crore over a period of three years. The French group has four cement plants in India - two in Chhattisgarh, and one grinding plant each in Jharkhand and West Bengal. Lafarge has also set up a gypsum plasterboard plant at Khushkhera in Rajasthan.
Revindra Gettu, Professor at IIT-M's Department of Civil Engineering said the research project will test the durability of concrete as a building material in different climatic conditions. He said that the tests will be conducted on concrete in different parts of India to identify the carbonation and its effects on concrete in different atmospheric conditions.
Pascal Casanova, head of Lafarge Group's Research and Development said that Lafarge aims to improve the performance of concrete to address sustainable construction and global warming challenges. He also added that this is done through cutting-edge scientific research and forming partnerships with other institutes and organizations.
