Research Interests
My research centers on understanding and preventing damage to stone monuments and buildings by swelling clays. Many stones used in ancient monuments and decorative finishes to buildings contain small inclusions of clays, some of which swell when exposed to water, and contract upon drying. A single cycle can generate damaging stresses on the order of the stone’s strength; over many cycles, this can lead to irretrievable losses or expensive restoration. It has been shown that treatment by surfactants can reduce swelling and mitigate the damage to stone by this mechanism. My research will encompass gaining a better understanding of the swelling inhibition mechanism by these surfactants, as well as understanding the development of damaging stresses due to the swelling mechanism.
Note: Tim has graduated and taken a position as a post-doc at EMPA in Zurich, Switzerland