Institutional

GEMASC is a research group at the Technology Center (CT) of the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), associated with the Postgraduate Program in Civil Engineering (PPGEC) and involving undergraduate students. The research group works in an interdisciplinary environment with the goal of contributing to the development, characterization, and understanding of traditional and alternative materials with reduced environmental impact within the construction industry. In general, the group focuses on the study of cementitious materials (mortars and concretes) derived from conventional Portland cement binders, as well as alternative binders (mainly alkali-activated cements and geopolymers). It also evaluates the scientific and technical feasibility of valorizing different industrial waste and/or byproducts and their potential inclusion as raw materials in the production of various construction materials, such as concrete, supplementary cementitious materials (or mineral additions), alternative binders, and the production of ceramic materials, among others. In this sense, different materials are characterized from a nanometric scale, as well as their mechanical properties and their performance in service (durability and service life).