Topics

Effects of pore water chemistry on clay/soil properties such as swelling, stress-strain behaviour and hydraulic conductivity including soil improvement in geotechnical applications and landslide stabilization

Chemically enhanced drainage in landslide stabilization
(In-situ) Swelling inhibition of expansive soils
Optimization of soil conditioning for clay-polymer mixtures
Bentonite suspensions in geotechnical applications (e.g. tunnelling)

Effects of chemical and physical alteration of clay minerals on macroscopic properties: Coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) processes in clayey barrier systems in conditions in radioactive waste repository

Physical influence (temperature, pressure, and irradiation) on the crystal structure and properties of minerals
Chemical influence (interaction with metal, cement, and rock)

(Clay) mineral – organic matter (OM) interaction

Interaction at a molecule-specific and mineral-specific level
Special interactions with different OM resulting in OM fractionation and preferential preservation
Effects on contamination uptake and transport
Mineral coating and influence on mechanical behaviour of (weathered) soils

Surface characteristics of clay minerals (clay minerals as nanoparticles, microstructure of aggregates, adsorption behaviour)

Intercalation and adsorption of organic compounds on clays and clay minerals
Layered minerals in polymer composites
Interaction of C-based nanomaterials (CBN) with clay minerals
Biological interactions

Mineral alteration during weathering processes in the "Critical Zone" in alpine and permafrost regions

Analysis of mineral transformation processes
Continuous proximal sensing and geochemical characterization
Structural properties of rocks and soils (e.g. porosity)
Mineral-microbe interactions

Developments in quantitative analysis of physicochemical parameters of (clay) minerals and mineral assemblages

Diagnostic intercalations in qualitative and quantitative phase analysis
Measurement of cation exchange capacity and exchangeable cations