Limited Operations Continue Amid the COVID-19 Outbreak
At this time, The Bishop Materials Lab at the NBRC is continuing with essential research and testing functions. For everyone’s safety, employee access has been limited by both University and State directives. We will continue to maintain essential operations for as long as possible during this State of Emergency, and hope, like everyone else, that we can return to business as usual sooner rather than later. If you have questions, please contact us: 864-656-1096 or brick@clemson.edu .
The Bishop Materials Laboratory: Fluxer
To prepare samples for chemical analysis by X-Ray fluorescence, we use this fluxer apparatus. We mix a prepared sample with a flux and fuse it into a glass disk for analysis. The crucibles are rotated over the flame to melt the sample and then the melt is automatically poured into a mold to make a sample that is ready to analyze. This type of preparation helps us account for matrix and particle size effects and gives us the most consistent results.  
Summer Meeting Update
As you may know, the joint NBRC and American Ceramic Society Structural Clay Products/Southwest Section Meeting that was scheduled for early June has been cancelled. In place of this physical meeting, the National Brick Research Center will be holding an interactive virtual meeting. This meeting will include a short business meeting, as required by our bylaws, followed by an interactive review of our research. The virtual meeting will be Tuesday, June 2, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM EST. 

Topics for the Research Review will include:
  • Thermal Performance (Hotbox, Climate Modelling and Solar Reflectance)
  • Rheometer Evaluation of Extrusion Behavior
  • ASTM Test Method Development (Improved IRA Test Method and Compressive Strength)
  • Methods to control vanadium staining and improve fired color in higher iron buff clays

We intend to try a new format to make this meeting more interactive and engaging. We are currently researching platforms for this meeting and will send out an invitation and more information when it is available.
Upcoming Events
April 29:  Preventing Vanadium Staining Webinar

June 2: NBRC Virtual Summer Meeting

June 27 - July 1: 2020 ASHRAE Virtual Conference

June 30 - July 2:  ASTM C15 Meeting, Boston, MA, USA

Aug. 3 - 6:  NBRC Fall Short Course, Anderson, SC, USA

Oct. 5:  NBRC Advisory Board Fall Meeting, Anderson, SC, USA

Oct. 6 - 7:  66th Annual Clemson Brick Forum, Anderson, SC, USA

Dec. 8 - 10:  ASTM C15 Meeting, Orlando, FL, USA

Jan. 23-27: 2021 ASHRAE Winter Conference , Chicago, IL, USA