The Construction Materials Laboratory, created in July e, 2002, is a unit of scientific research and service delivery to the community, and belongs to the Department of Civil Engineering of University of Minho.

Construction Materials Laboratory covers destructive and non-destructive testing of construction materials such as fresh and hardened mortars and concrete and the assessment of their durability and mechanical properties. The equipment housed in Construction Materials Laboratory will allow the characterization, development and testing of high performance sustainable materials for a wide variety of applications in the construction industry.

The main objectives of Construction Materials Laboratory are as follows:

•Support pedagogically different teaching projects of the Department of Civil Engineering, namely the Integrated Master on Civil Engineering and postgraduate studies (International Master in Sustainable Built Environment and Doctoral Program in Civil Engineering) in the area of construction materials;

•Participate in scientific research projects in the areas defined in the CTAC strategic program, namely in that who are framed in the Ecomaterials thematic line.

•Develop activities of consultancy and service delivery to the community;

•Develop training course.

The Construction Materials Laboratory performs various tests in the following areas:

•Admixtures for concrete

•Aggregates;

•Mortars and concretes;

•Hydraulic and aerial lime;

•Injection pastes;

•Cements and additions;

•Wood;

•Ceramic materials;

•Paints and varnishes