An assistant materials engineering professor is bringing new innovations in construction technology. <\/p>\n
Kendra Erk, a professor in the College of Engineering, was given the Faculty Early Career Development Program Award from the National Science Foundation for her extensive research on the use of hydrogels in cement. <\/p>\n
The same hydrogels are used in diapers to soak up moisture. When added to concrete, they can make it stronger in the curing process. <\/p>\n
I think its cool because adding something soft and squishy to concrete makes it stronger and more durable, said Erk. <\/p>\n
This project arose from a simple discussion among colleagues and is now one of the biggest projects that Erk will be working on for the next five years. <\/p>\n
Erk and her team make the hydrogels themselves, test them to see how they hold water and then characterize them before finally putting them in the cement. The use of hydrogels in cement is getting more popular in the United States, but most of the research on them has been done in Europe. <\/p>\n
Cement is unique around the world because it cannot be outsourced. The properties of cement are different depending on the area where it is made because not every location has the same resources. <\/p>\n
Erk and her team are interested in approaching the implementation of hydrogels from a polymer physics side. <\/p>\n
Id like the team to take a lot of the big material related problems in the construction field, said Erk. <\/p>\n
Part of Erks team is Travis Thornell, a graduate student in materials engineering who works closely with the hydrogels. <\/p>\n
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Materials engineering professor receives NSF grant<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" An assistant materials engineering professor is bringing new innovations in construction technology. Kendra Erk, a professor in the College of Engineering, was given the Faculty Early Career Development Program Award from the National Science Foundation for her extensive research on the use of hydrogels in cement. The same hydrogels are used in diapers to soak up moisture Continue reading