Geomaterials

The key research area deals with material-related aspects of the geosciences. Its main subjects of research include the atomic structure, chemical composition, microstructures and phase diagrams, as well as the physical and chemical properties of minerals, rocks, glasses, melts and fluids, and their behavior in the context of geological and technological processes.

Geomaterials research supplies physical and chemical data on materials, based on experiments and theoretical expertise, for building quantitative geological models, and contributes fundamental insights into the material properties and behavior during the technological processing of georelevant materials. Geomaterials research is thus essential for understanding the evolution and processes of the solid Earth and other planets.

It also contributes to the efficient detection, recovery and use of raw materials and to the assessment of geohazards related to earthquakes and volcanism. The application-oriented goals of this key research area include the development and design of new mineral-based materials such as construction materials, refractory products or functional ceramics.