The keynote lecture entitled 'Sustainable Concrete', focused on the main developments and trends in the sustainability of cement, concrete and composites. Concrete is an important construction material with applications in buildings, major infrastructure and civil engineering works. Whilst it is considered to be the most widely used material, it has significant environmental impacts in society which include increasing consumption of non-renewable natural resources and the energy intensive production of cement.
Dr Borg presented the main findings of current research in Materials Engineering at the University of Malta, in particular on the use of industrial by-products and waste materials including waste limestone in the production of high performance concrete, environmental performance, microstructure properties and fluid transport mechanisms in cement bound materials. The keynote Lecture also addressed degradation mechanisms and life cycle engineering in reinforced concrete structures.
Dr Borg was further appointed Vice-Chairman of the International Conference which is organised every two years, attracting leading International researchers in Construction and Civil Engineering Materials.
For further information on Civil Engineering Materials, waste recycling, materials degradation and repair, Dr Ruben Paul Borg may be contacted by email at ruben.p.borg@um.edu.mt.