Progress through research

Tenfold boost to insulation performance through vacuum technology

Empa is collaborating with industry in the development of simple, robust vacuum-insulated products only one tenth the thickness of standard thermal insulation. Suitable for both new-build and refurbishment schemes, this space-saving technology is, in numerous instances, already proving more economical than conventional solutions. At Swissbau, Empa will provide details of potential applications and arrange contacts between suppliers and applicators.

Bridge cable systems – all in good health?

Non-destructive "check-ups" using induced magnetic fields have long been performed on aerial ropeway cables. EMPA has now adapted this method for the examination of bridge support cables. The transportable, easy-to-use measurement device is capable of delivering a swift verdict on the condition of bridge cables, pinpointing any defects before these can take on critical dimensions. The method will be demonstrated at Swissbau.

Stiff lightweight units made from flexible studded sheet

Plastic studded sheet membranes are found in a wide variety of drainage applications in building construction and civil engineering. Empa has used this flexible, inexpensive starting product to develop a lightweight building unit that exhibits a high stiffness and load capacity in comparison to the original sheet. The new product, for which a patent is pending under the name "SANOP", in turn serves as the base component for further developments, variously used as earthwork support in excavations, formwork panels in concreting and loadbearing drainage membranes in tunnel engineering. Further applications will be on view at the Swissbau stand.

The active window – state-of-the-art in sound insulation

While the potential offered by passive sound insulation measures to windows has now been largely exhausted, major advances beckon through the application of intelligently controlled vibration suppression systems to double-glazed units. While first prototypes, developed by EMPA in the course of R&D projects, have demonstrated the basic feasibility of such solutions, considerable work remains to be done prior to practical implementation.

Material flows in the construction industry

Of all the economic sectors in Switzerland, the building industry causes the largest materials flows, while consuming some 60% of primary energy. Substantial improvements could be achieved in future by the wider use of recycled materials, for instance. Empa makes a valuable contribution through practice-oriented research and development aimed at promoting the recycling of building materials and structures and the use of renewable raw materials and durable, eco-efficient products in construction. This work will be on show at Swissbau.

Measuring the pulse of a heavily trafficked motorway

Since 1998, Empa has been monitoring loads on the carriageways of the Zurich–Berne motorway under various traffic and weather conditions. This is the only long-term investigation of its kind in Switzerland. The installed system records the number and weight of passing vehicles while logging the resilience of the pavement. The measurements are comparable to measuring the motorway’s health since they provide a constant update on the highway's state of health. The findings, to be presented at Swissbau, will serve to optimize materials use and extend the lifespan of our motorways.