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Mr Deon Kruger, a senior lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering Science within the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), is a typical example of someone who pushes the boundaries of discovery and progress in the engineering world. Kruger has been elected as Vice-President of one of the world’s leading congresses on polymers in concrete, the International Congress on Polymers in Concrete (ICPIC). The 14th ICPIC was recently held in Shanghai, China.
As Vice-President of ICPIC, Kruger aims to create a culture of knowledge sharing in all industrial and scientific fields including materials, chemical, civil, electrical,mechanical and transportation engineering that and sustainability in this fascinating field of cement and concrete-polymer composites that encompasses researchers, academics, students and industry across the globe.
“The search for durable and sustainable construction materials inspires the developments in the world of polymer modified cement concrete, as well as in the world of concrete-polymer composites,” says Kruger. “A better understanding of the micro and nano materials behaviour, especially in the field of polymer chemistry, coupled with a more detailed knowledge of the interactive processes between these materials, allowed for the development of high performing modified concretes, mortars and grouts. These are invaluable elements in the development of sustainable construction materials.”
Kruger started his career in 1983 at the former Rand Afrikaans University as one of the first full-time lecturers in Civil Engineering. After completing his Master’s in Civil Engineering with a dissertation on Polymers in Concrete and registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) he became a senior lecturer in Civil Engineering.
Kruger achieved significant national and international acknowledgement for his input in the teaching of engineering as well as his research and contribution to the science of the use of polymers in concrete and was elected as Fellow of the South African Institute of Civil Engineers (SAICE). In addition, he was nominated for the Owen Nut Award for his role in advancing the science of Polymers in Concrete and was also awarded the Concrete Achiever of the Year award by the Gauteng Branch of Cement and Concrete Society of South Africa.
Apart for guiding numerous postgraduate students within UJ’s Materials, Geotechnical and Transportation Research Group, Kruger teaches project management at both under- and postgraduate levels at UJ.
UJ will host the 16th ICPIC symposium in South Africa in 2018.
