The current research staff of engineers and technicians have a combined experience of over 105 years and are professionally qualified in Research and Development techniques and testing equipment. They are dedicated “TEAM RENO” employees and are committed with developing the newest and most advanced technologies for our customers. RENO’s Research capabilities include:
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES TESTING
- Density
- Porosity
- Pore Size Distribution
- Permeability and Particle Size
- Thermal Expansion
- Thermal Conductivity
- Electrical Conductivity and Potential
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES TESTING
- Cold and Hot Modulus of Rupture
- Cold Crushing Strength
- Elastic Modulus and Abrasion
- Thermal Shock
CORROSION TESTING
- Traditional Cup
- Rotary Slag
- Induction Furnace
Additionally, Slag Testing, Chemical Analysis, and Post-Mortem Analysis is carried out using advanced characterization instruments such as:
- Optical Microscopy
- Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS)
- X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fluorescence (XRF)
- Thermos-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA)
- Porosymetry
The Research and Development group is spread over two buildings with dedicated labs for batching, casting, firing, and characterization. Firing capabilities extend up to 3000°F and shapes up to three feet square. Additional capabilities are also leveraged through collaboration with the quality control and precast shape department.
Research Innovations
- First company to install low cement shotcrete (1993 AK Steel, Ashland, KY)
- Patent for shotcreting of low cement castable (1995 Jet Cast Line)
- Patent for gunning of no cement materials (2010)
- Electro TM line of electrochemically bonded castables, pumpable, shotcretes, and coatings
(2017-present)
