Advancing Materials Characterisation: Reformix Attends Durham University’s XRD & Rietveld Refinement School 2026
- Apr 12
- 3 min read
From Western Australia to the United Kingdom: Expanding Reformix’s Advanced Materials Characterisation Capability
Advanced materials engineering depends on more than just formulation - it depends on understanding materials at the crystallographic, microstructural and sometimes even atomic level.
Last month, Reformix Materials Group director Ramon Skåne travelled to the United Kingdom to attend the Durham University Powder Diffraction & Rietveld Refinement School 2026, joining researchers, academics and industry professionals from around the world to further develop advanced materials characterisation capabilities.
Led by internationally recognised experts in X-ray diffraction (XRD), crystallography and diffraction modelling, the program focused on both the fundamentals and latest developments in powder diffraction analysis, advanced Rietveld refinement, synchrotron diffraction and microstructural characterisation techniques.
For Reformix, the opportunity represented more than just academic development, it reinforced the importance of advanced analytical methods in solving real industrial engineering challenges.
Why Advanced Materials Characterisation Matters
Modern engineering materials are rarely simple systems.
Whether assessing supplementary cementitious materials, geopolymer precursors, mining by-products, advanced ceramics or industrial residues, understanding how a material behaves requires insight far beyond basic chemistry alone.
Advanced diffraction and crystallographic techniques provide that insight by allowing engineers and researchers to better understand:
phase composition and crystallinity
amorphous versus crystalline fractions
particle and microstructural behaviour
reaction mechanisms and kinetics
material stability and process performance
These analytical approaches are increasingly important across industries where material variability, quality control and process optimisation directly influence technical and commercial outcomes.
Applications Across Industry
The techniques explored throughout the Durham program have direct applications across several of Reformix’s focus areas, including:
Advanced Cementitious Systems
XRD and Rietveld refinement play a critical role in understanding geopolymer systems, supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), calcined clays and alternative binders. Detailed crystallographic analysis supports feedstock optimisation, hydration studies, reaction monitoring and performance validation.
Mining & Industrial By-Product Characterisation
Advanced diffraction analysis allows more accurate assessment of industrial residues, tailings and mineral by-products for potential repurposing into commercial materials. This includes identifying reactive phases, quantifying amorphous content and assessing mineralogical variability for process engineering applications.
QA/QC and Process Optimisation
Modern material systems often fail not because of chemistry alone, but because of inconsistencies in processing and quality control. Advanced analytical methods support process validation, reproducibility and industrial standardisation.
Technology Validation & Scale-Up
Understanding how materials evolve during processing is critical when moving technologies from laboratory development into industrial deployment. Synchrotron diffraction and advanced modelling techniques provide increasingly valuable insight into these transitions.
Bridging Fundamental Science with Industrial Engineering
One of the strongest takeaways from the program was the growing convergence between fundamental materials science and practical industrial engineering.
The applications of X-Ray diffraction and crystallographic analysis are becoming increasingly important for real-world process engineering, commercial product validation and scalable manufacturing.
For Reformix, continued engagement with international research institutions, advanced analytical methodologies and industry-leading scientific practices remains an important part of strengthening technical capability within Western Australia’s growing materials innovation sector.
Ramon was also grateful to receive a Durham University bursary to attend the program and was proud to be the only Australian participant!
Final Thoughts
As industries continue developing more advanced, lower-carbon and performance-optimised materials, the ability to accurately characterise and understand those systems becomes of paramount importance.
Techniques such as XRD, Rietveld refinement and synchrotron diffraction are no longer niche academic tools, they are becoming essential components of modern industrial materials engineering.
At Reformix, these capabilities continue supporting our broader focus on bridging fundamental science with practical process engineering, quality assurance, scale-up and commercial deployment.
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